Space travel either doesn't exist, or it is relatively primitive. Colonization might be restricted to planets and asteroids within our own solar system. A whole lot of evolutionary changes aren't going to happen because the distances aren't that great and travel/exchange between populations is easily possible. There may be some genetic engineering to make off-earth life more comfortable, but there is just as much going on in the area of habitat modification to human-supportable conditions.

The major focus for our story during this era is who is going to go, how do they think they will accomplish it, and why do they want to go? Possible storylines might explore:

• What factors on earth make folks want to move into space
• What technologies will our explorers choose to employ
• What sociological groups support/oppose the project
• What problems exist that must be solved
• How are destinations chosen (or not)