Timeline and chronology

Please note that this article is under construction. A forum discussion thread is being established for input.

This page documents the succession of chronological events that have taken place within The Expanse universe (including the The Expanse TV series).

Save for only one, no certain chronological parameter has ever been affirmed within the series. The only known certain date is 2307, the commencement production date of Ganymede Gin, a liquor brand.

However, after multiple implications, it is of most likelihood that The Expanse commences in 2350, mostly evidenced by the previous name of the series, 2350. However, to best reduce the degree of speculation within the timeline, this page will use two different indicators relative to one of the most prominent events, the discovery of the protomolecule. Therefore, any event prior will be indicated by BXT (before extrasolar technology), while those standing further on the chronological line of events will be denoted by XTE (extrasolar technology era).

Additionally, the The Expanse Roleplaying Game comes with a map of the Solar System, marking the date as 2351 - this corresponds with the RPG's intended setting as shortly after Leviathan Wakes and prior to Caliban's War.

Although still not one-hundred-percent confirmed, the year 2350 corresponds to 8 XTE.^{[Citation needed]}

Timeline of books & series[]

Interplanetary era[]

Ring Builder era[]

> 2,000,000,000 BXT[]

Time period approximated based on extrapolation...

The Ring Builders evolve on their homeworld, likely somewhere in the Milky Way galaxy.
The Ring Builders achieve spaceflight.

ca. 2,000,000,000 BXT[]

The Ring Builders uncover wormhole physics. Subsequently, they commence building a massive interstellar network spanning across many star systems in the Milky Way.
The Ring Builders' empire becomes the dominant power in their small corner of the galaxy. The species thrives.
Around this time, the Ring Builders place the protomolecule in Phoebe, and send Phoebe on a trajectory towards the prehistorical, primitive Earth.
Phoebe is caught by Saturn's gravity, sparing Earth's primitive life from the protomolecule.

Pre-spacefaring era[]

ca. 200,000 BXT[]

The modern human evolves on Earth.
Humanity migrates beyond Africa.

9,000 BXT[]

The very first human settlements are built.

500 - 350 BXT[]

The two global conflicts are ignited between human alliances. About one hundred million people are killed.
The United Nations is formed, but has extremely limited powers that have very little effect on most nations states.
The United States and the Soviet Union emerge as the two superpowers. The Cold War begins.
The Soviet Union starts the era of human spaceflight, soon followed by the United States.
The United States lands the first human on the moon (Luna), humanity's first steps on another planetary body.
Eventually, the USSR dissolves, leaving the United States as the sole superpower for decades to come.

Extraterrestrial colonization era[]

320 BXT[]

Mars is settled by humanity.

300 - 200 BXT[]

The damage done to Earth's ecosystem reaches critical levels.
The various nations on Earth focus their economies on the advancement of space travel.
Eventually, the United Nations becomes the unified government of humanity.

200 - 130 BXT[]

Mars pleads for independence from the United Nations. The UN refuses.
Tensions grow between the UN and its colony.

129 BXT[]

Solomon Epstein achieves a breakthrough regarding space propulsion and develops the Epstein Drive.

128 BXT[]

Mars exchanges the Epstein drive for independence from the UN.
The Martian Congressional Republic is proclaimed.

127 - 50 BXT[]

The United Nations and the MCR, both using the Epstein drive, colonize the remaining outer part of the Sol system.
Ganymede becomes the breadbasket of the outer planets.
Significant anatomical differences develop between Inners and Belters, due to growth in low gravity. Such differences also exist between Earthers and Martians, but are not as obvious.

Peace era[]

30 BXT[]

The OPA (Outer Planets Alliance) is founded.

12 BXT[]

Amos Burton departs Earth.

4 BXT[]

James Holden joins the United Nations Navy.

3 BXT[]

Chrisjen Avasarala becomes the Deputy Undersecretary of Executive Administration of the UN.

1 XTE[]

The MCR surveys Phoebe and discovers the protomolecule.
The Martian government approaches Protogen as a co-sponsor of a long-term facility to investigate the protomolecule.

3 XTE[]

James Holden is dishonourably discharged from the UNN.
Subsequently, Holden is contracted by the Pur'n'Kleen Water Company.

Tensioned era[]

8 XTE[]

Julie Mao boards the Scopuli. Eventually, she ends up on Eros, where she dies of protomolecule exposure.

The Canterbury is destroyed by Protogen forces, but some escape on the Knight shuttle.
The Donnager is destroyed by Protogen forces, but some escape on the Tachi (frigate housed in the Donnager).

The Tachi is renamed the Rocinante by her new crew and docks at Tycho Station for repairs and a new transponder to make the transition complete.

9 XTE[]

Julie Mao's body is found by Miller, Holden, and his crew.
Eros incident: The protomolecule is let loose on Eros station, killing all of its inhabitants. Only Miller and Holden manage to escape and return to the Rocinante.

XTE-Alpha😷

Era Date		Event
(imprecise)^[1]	(precise)^[2]	Name/ID	Short Description	Principal Stakeholders/Participants
9XTE^[3] XTE–α(Ⅰ)	9.0.0.0	Phoebe experiment	Protomolecule Testing	Protogen & Martian Scientists
	9.1.0.0(?)	Scopuli/Anubis encounter
	9.1.1.0	Canterbury receives Scopuli's distress call	Knight Responds
	9.1.2.0	Canterbury/Anubis encounter
	9.1.2.1	Knight (Holden) sends request for orders to Pur 'n' Kleen
	9.1.2.3	Pur 'n' Kleen lawyer, Wallace Fitz, directs Knight to meet Donnager and cooperate with their investigation
	9.1.3.0	Donnager attacked by unknown stealth ship(s)
	9.1.4.0	Tachi escapes Donnager as Captain Yao scuttles the Martian dreadnought
	9.1.4.1	Tachi contacts Tycho Station/Johnson
	9.1.4.2	Tachi becomes Rocinante
	9.1.5.0	Rocinante arrives at Tycho Station
	9.1.8.0	Julie Mao escapes Anubis	After eight days of entrapment/confinement, she breaks out. Discovers the contamination in abandoned stealth vessel, stows the Anubis at BA-834024112 and makes way to Eros aboard Anubis 1A.
		Miller arrives on Eros
		Rocinante crew arrive on Eros
		Blue Falcon	Miller meets Rocinante crew at Blue Falcon and together they defeat armed assailants
		Miller and the Rocinante crew find Julie Mao
		Dock explosion is staged
		Eros experiment	inhabitants are herded into shelters, intentionally contaminated with the extrasolar biotechnology and heavily irradiated.	Protogen & Antony Dresden, CPM Mercs hired from Ceres gangsters
10XTE^[3] XTE–α(Ⅱ)		Thoth Station
		Eros is rigged with explosives
		Nauvoo made into battering ram	Nauvoo targeted at Eros
		Eros evades Nauvoo
		Earth launches nuclear arsenal at Eros
		Eros collides with Venus

XTE-Beta👾

Era Date		Event
(imprecise)^[1]	(precise)^[2]	Name/ID	Short Description	Principal Stakeholders/Participants
11??XTE^[3] XTE–β(Ⅱ)	~11.6.0.0	Child abductions	Caliban Protomolecule Human hybrid Testing	Mao-Kwikowski & Former Protogen Scientists including Strickland + Umea
	~11.6.0.1(?)	Protomolecule Hybrid released
	11.6.0.2	Ganymede conflict	Conflict erupts outside Ganymede station. Lieutenant Givens orders Bobbie's squad back to outpost 4. Radio jammed. The entire outpost is wiped out including the giant mech with canon piloted by Sa'id, Yojimbo.
	11.6.1.2	Bobbie's recovery	Bobbie reminds Petty Officer Singh that her Goliath MkⅢ uses an older video encoding hence is able to retrieve the footage of battle. Bobbie hopes they didn't destroy her suit while extracting her.
	11.7.0.0	Armistice summit	Bobbie is irritated by avoidance of discussion regarding what is described sterility in writing as the "Anomaly" she walks out. Both Martens and Thorsson are at the summit with Bobbie. Martens is a good guy.	UN (Earth) & MCR (Mars)
	11.7.1.0	Dasihari Lounge	Avasarala offers Bobbie a job.	UN (Earth) & MCR (Mars)
	11.8.0.0	Guanshiyin confrontation
		Arboghast
12XTE^[3] XTE–β(Ⅲ)	~12.0.0.0	Razorback
		UN fleet loyal to Admiral Nguyen battles near Io with UN Jupiter fleet under command of Admiral Souther along with Rocinante and MCRN contingent
		MCRN Sally Ride resupplies Rocinante.
		UN Agatha King and Nguyễn's last stand	Protomolecule Hybrids launched at Mars from Io	Razorback and Holden

XTE-Gamma😲

Era Date		Event
(imprecise)^[1]	(precise)^[2]	Name/ID	Short Description	Principal Stakeholders/Participants
13??XTE^[3] XTE–γ(Ⅲ)	~13.0.0.0	"Squid" launches from Venus
	~13.0.1.0(?)	Ring Opens
		Mateo Espinoza-Jung attempts slingshot through rings aboard Y Que.
		Flotilla	UN sends Thomas King, Seung Un, and Cerisier
		Seung Un bombed
		Rocinante broadcasts OPA demands
		Behemoth (repurposed Nauvoo) fires on Rocinante
		Rocinante hides behind Martian ship then escapes into rings
		Flotilla pursues
		Holden follows the Investigator to the Ring Station and is pursued by Martian Marines
		Slow zone speed limit drops	Martian Marines attempt to apprehend Holden but trigger Ring Station defenses




14XTE^[3] XTE–γ(Ⅳ)	~14.0.0.0

XTE-Delta😬

Era Date		Event
(imprecise)^[1]	(precise)^[2]	Name/ID	Short Description	Principal Stakeholders/Participants
15??XTE^[3] XTE–δ(Ⅳ)	~15.0.0.0	Edward Israel takes orbit over Ilus Ⅳ
	~15.0.1.0(?)	Edward Israel shuttle crashes








16XTE^[3] XTE–δ(Ⅴ)	~16.0.0.0

XTE-Epsilon🔧

Era Date		Event
(imprecise)^[1]	(precise)^[2]	Name/ID	Short Description	Principal Stakeholders/Participants
17XTE^[3] XTE–ε(Ⅴ)	~17.0.0.0	Martian dockyards attacked on Callisto
	~17.1.0.0(?)	Earth bombarded








18XTE^[3] XTE–ε(Ⅵ)	~18.0.0.0

XTE-Zeta🔧

Era Date		Event
(imprecise)^[1]	(precise)^[2]	Name/ID	Short Description	Principal Stakeholders/Participants
47XTE	~37.0.0.0(?)	Freehold colonized
47XTE	~47.0.0.0(?)	Freehold ship enters slow zone unauthorised		Transport Union, The Assembly of Sovereign Citizens
47XTE	~47.0.0.0(?)	Rocinante sent to inform Freehold of being cut off from slow zone for 3 years		Transport Union, The Assembly of Sovereign Citizens
47XTE	~47.0.0.0	Laconia captures slow zone		Transport Union, Laconian Empire
47XTE	~47.0.0.0(?)	Tempest Jovian Battle		EMC, Transport Union, Laconian Empire
47XTE	~47.0.0.0(?)	Pella destruction and Sol system time-loss		Transport Union, Laconian Empire
47XTE	~47.0.0.0(?)	Battle of Point Leuctra		EMC, Transport Union, Laconian Empire
47XTE	~47.0.0.0(?)	Medina Station insurrection		Underground, Laconian Empire
47XTE	~47.0.0.0(?)	underground ships escape slow zone		Underground, Laconian Empire
47XTE	~47.0.0.0(?)	Gathering Storm stolen by underground		Underground, Laconian Empire

XTE-Eta🔧

Era Date		Event
(imprecise)^[1]	(precise)^[2]	Name/ID	Short Description	Principal Stakeholders/Participants
51XTE	~51.0.0.0(?)	Gathering Storm raids Laconian transport. Steals antimatter		Underground, Laconian Empire
51XTE	~51.0.0.0(?)	slow zone devastation event		Laconian Empire, Unknown Aggressors
51XTE	~51.0.0.0(?)	Heart of the Tempest destroyed by underground		Underground, Laconian Empire
51XTE	~51.0.0.0(?)	Captain Bobbie Draper killed		Underground, Laconian Empire
51XTE	~51.0.0.0(?)	Siege of Laconia comences		Underground, Laconian Empire
51XTE	~51.0.0.0(?)	Laconia Station destroyed by underground fleet		Underground, Laconian Empire