Origins II Probes

Identical in mission to the Origins I probes, these spacecraft were designed to confirm Earth life-capable planets. Although, the space agencies referred to them by their official name, the media chose to refer to them as Terra Nova probes after the broader organization that funded their construction and deployment.

Built by the BoeingLockheed plant on the far side of the Moon under contract to the Terra Nova Consortium, these probes consisted of an improved Winglee Model 2 drive, a deep space communications package, a full spectrum sensor array, a biosciences spectroanalyzer, and an artificial intelligence (AI) control system. The Origins II probes data capture and analysis modules were constructed with massively multilayered microprocessors (M3) semiconductors. The AI control system was built around the new quantum central processor. The Winglee Model; 2 drive produced a 10,000km plasma sail with the same amount of energy consumption as the Model 1 drive, but reached a peak acceleration of 562.8kps and a velocity of .52C or 156,000kps.

The first of the second series of Terra Nova probes was commissioned Aries XIV and launched by maglev mass driver toward a colony-world candidate in 2062CE. It orbited L 1159-16 in 2090 CE after traveling 14.5 light-years. The Terra Nova Institute received first data from the probe in 2104 CE.