The Origins of TARDIS Technology

NOTE: All events in this section of the timeline happen millions of years before the Doctor is born. The dates are based on the year Rassilon came to power.

-3?
The 508th Pythia initiates the Time Program.

-3
The first time machine, called the Time Scaphe or Chronoscaphe, is powered by the Artron Energy of its Chronaut Crew. The Chronauts begin training for their first mission by doing hundreds of simulations. The Scaphe's Chronaut Crew consists of Captain Quennesander Olyesti Pekkary, Second Officer Amnoni Distuyssor Lorizhon, Regulator Chesperl, Reogus Telleem Lacott, Quantum Theorist Taspar and the one year old Pilot Shonnzi.

2?
At least a year before the Intuitive Revolution, the Time Scoop, which uses psychic powers, is created.

-1
The Time Scaphe is launched.

0
The Intuitive Revolution occurs: Rassilon comes to power and the Time Scaphe returns.

1 to 8?
Rassilon begins funding pure research (such as the Time Program).

1 to 8?
During the time that the Chameleon Circuit was being tested, the Gallifreyans become involved in a "Time Race" with the Crialans of Crial to see which race could develop Time Travel first. The Gallifreyans steal several innovations from the Crialans.

1 to 8?
Rassilon discovers the First Secret of Chronoambulatory Egress. This discovery leads to an understanding of the glorious secrets of Time.

1 to 8?
Rassilon creates the Equation of Rassilon, which allows travel in a Time Corridor. Rassilon decides to use a black hole as a power source.

1 to 8?
The Web of Time is constructed within the Space-Time Vortex by Rassilon and the Other. It is a vast transdimensional spiral encompassing all points in space and time.

1 to 8?
Prototype Time Travel Capsules are launched with Gallifreyan Womprats as "crew." These Capsules can enter and leave the Space-Time Vortex, but cannot travel through space or time. They exist in the Vortex and require large amounts of power to leave it.

1 to 8?
Rassilon and Omega begin working together on the Hand of Omega project.

9
Omega finishes creating both of the Hands of Omega and discovers the de-materialization theory. Rassilon begins designing the SIDRAT (Space and Inter-Time Dimensional Robot All-purpose Transport) Time Travel Capsule.

9
The Hands of Omega are used to destroy a Population III Q star, named Qqaba, in a supernova. During this detonation Omega is sucked into the resulting black hole. Rassilon, and the other survivors of this expedition, become the first Time Lords.

9
The Crialans develop Time Travel. They plan to travel back in time and take control of all the races in the Universe. The Time Lords declare a Time War on them and erase them from history.

32?
Rassilon discovers the secret of temporal fission. He enters the black hole created by Omega and brings it to Gallifrey where he names it the Eye of Harmony (also known as Rassilon's Star). Rassilon creates the Rassilon Imprimatur, which is worked into the biodata of all Time Lords.

34?
Years after the Eye of Harmony is captured The Other discovers Warp Matrix (a.k.a. Transdimensional) Engineering. Rassilon designes the Protyon Unit for the first TARDIS.

34?
The first SIDRAT (Space and Inter-Time Dimensional Robot All-purpose Transport) Time Travel Capsule is created. Because it lacks a connection to the Eye of Harmony, the life span of a SIDRAT was only a few weeks. The SIDRAT (Space and Inter-Time Dimensional Robot All-purpose Transport) Time Travel Capsule can be remotely controled. However this drastically shortens the life of their Time Control Units.

36?
Two million years before the time of the Doctor the Prototype Type 1 Time Travel Capsule is created. It and all future Capsules are equipped with Banshee Circuits. It is Dimensionally Immanent i.e. smaller on the inside then the outside, and can only hold three to four people. The interior resembles the interior of the "Cushing Film's" TARDIS. All Time Travel Capsules receive their power from the Prime Eye of Harmony. This Artron Energy is broadcast though the Vortex to the Capsules. The Space/Time range limit for these broadcasts define the Gallifreyan Noosphere.

36?
At the same time as the creation of the Type 1 the Gallifreyan chronosphere is filled with failed prototype Time Travel Capsules. Occasionally these abandoned capsules break free of Gallifrey's temporal pull and slingshot through the space/time continuum.

36?
Temporal Physicist Mason begins studying the effects of altering history.

36?
Rassilon creates the Laws of Time, based on Mason's work.

40?
After Patience's Capsule is built but before the end of the Vampire Wars Susan names the new Time Travel Capsules TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space). The word Tardis is Gallifreyan for Timeship. The first TARDISes are small boxes that can only hold 3-4 Time Lords.

50-900?
War TARDISes are used in the Eternal Wars to transport Bow Ships. These TARDISes' exteriors are the size of comets and are filled with corridors and rooms.

1100?
Over 1000 years after the Vampire Wars begin the Record of Rassilon is created on magnetic cards and installed in all TARDISes.

1100-50000?
The Ooolatrii capture some Type 20 TARDIS during the Celestial Wars.

50,000?
Despite protests from traditionalists, several millennia after the Type 1 is created, the Type 25 becomes the first TARDIS to have an independent Block-Transfer copy of the Eye of Harmony.

501,000
TARDISes are accepted as being suitable for exploration and investigation.

701,000
TARDISes are accepted as tools for participation and interference in the Web of Time.

40,000 to 1,000,000?
The Time Lords develop Quantum Mnemonics, which is far superior to Block-Transfer Computation. Despite this, TARDISes are still constructed using Block-Transfer Computation.

Color Key

The following color code is used:

• Black: For information from the TV Series, including Dimensions in Time, and 1996 TV Movie.
• Blue: For information from the Novels and Audios including Target, Virgin, BCC, and Big Finish.
• Green: For information from 'licensed' reference sources such as the Technical Manual, Doctor Who Magazine, and the Role Playing Games.
• Red: For information from unofficial sources -The Faction Paradox series, behind the scenes interviews, author's speculation, and popular fan belief.

Copyright Will B Swift

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