Institutional history

A common record.
A lasting institution.

Foundation46 was established in 2048 to give international scientific cooperation a permanent public mandate. Its work grew from observing standards into a wider research portfolio.

NASA Deep Space Network antennas at Goldstone

Historical observing infrastructure: NASA/JPL Goldstone · Image credits

2046

The Reference Break

Observatories independently confirmed disagreements between retained sky records and new measurements. An international comparison programme established shared procedures and preserved the original data.

2048

An international compact

Participating public institutions created Foundation46 under an international compact, with a permanent secretariat in Geneva.

Early operations

An observing network

Celestial reference work expanded into an observing network, environmental data services and joint research facilities.

Programme development

A wider research portfolio

Regional offices established shared instrument access, training and mission support. Expeditions joined the portfolio alongside continuing Earth-based work.

Current operations

Earth research and exploration

Foundation46 supports Earth monitoring, common scientific references, research infrastructure and expeditions including Mission Avenra.

Archive note: historical summaries retain the original programme names and periods. The Reference Break is part of the institution’s history. Its cause remains a research question. Foundation46’s establishment in 2048 does not assign a date to the arrival of any later expedition.

Explore the historical catalogue.

Early comparison records retain their original identifiers alongside the current research library.

Legacy archive →