“We choose to go there, not because it is easy, but because it is hard. I believe that this great Republic should commit itself to achieving this goal, to send life to that place and return it safely to the galaxy. No single space project in this era will be more important to us in the history of the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.”―Tobbert Dalonbian on the mission to Via Lactea, during his speech on Coruscant.
In 22 BBY, right before the Clone Wars, a scientific expeditionary mission to the Via Lactea galaxy was launched from Camooine, funded by Brodo Asogi Senator Nevets Grebleips and Naboo Senator Padme Amidala, supported by the Jedi Order.