Appendix: Laurasia/Gondwana

Transire Benefaciendo [Latin] - Beneficial Passage

Dietrich Lehrer envisioned a metaphorical supercontinent long before the global revolution. He lived in an autonomous, quasi-utopian state free from divisions of race, culture, sociopolitical or socioeconomic status, and national boundaries, which he called New Pangea. When Lehrer/Sheen, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), began developing space stations in the 2040s, he named them Gondwana and Laurasia to reflect this utopian ideal of a united global federation. He later wrote that he had little knowledge of or interest in science, Pangea, or its future iterations like Pangea Proxima. To him, science was just another religion—an obstacle built on arbitrary rules. — Biography of a Madman, by Lars Anthony

Laurasia Series
Laurasia, launched by Lehrer/Sheen in 2075, served educational and recreational purposes. Its passengers and crew, including Dietrich Lehrer and his grandson Christian, explored outer space for five-month missions, with an additional month allocated for potential delays and maintenance. Typically, Laurasia docked at each of Earth’s five Lagrange points, chosen for their gravitational stability and clear views of deep space. These points, free from interference by the Earth, Moon, and Sun, were ideal for observing stars, galaxies, and exoplanets.

Laurasia also facilitated the study of small bodies at Lagrange points, the repositioning, refueling, and repairing of satellites and spacecraft, and the placement of sensors to collect data on Earth’s aerosols, atmospheric composition, clouds, ocean and vegetation properties, and surface radiation. Its innovation lay in introducing civilian participation, blending recreation with education.

Gondwana Series
Gondwana, also launched in 2075 and staffed entirely by robots, focused on deep-space manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, crystals, and electronics, leveraging microgravity for enhanced production. Its research explored mind uploading, brain-computer interfaces (BCI), and brain-machine interfaces (BMI). This fusion of neuroscience and computer science advanced connectomics and virtual reality to develop androids, gynoids, and artificial intelligence.