Dual missions to the edge of the solar system

It is the early 2020’s. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) continues its successful and evolving program of exploration with its new space station and its first unmanned mission to Mars. In the West, private aerospace companies like Siren Aerotech have cornered the market on civilian space travel by focusing primarily on orbital tourism.

Yet, there are people—scientists, engineers, and visionaries—who feel that things are not progressing quickly enough. They see a world where the promise of traveling to the planets of the Solar System or even the nearest star has remained unfulfilled. Through clandestine and dogged invention, there are innovations out there that could change the face of exploration. One of them, perhaps the most ambitious propulsion system of all time, is about to come to light. And then, the real race will begin…