Sci-fi Sandbox and my influences

So what do I want in my Sci-fi sandbox?

James Maliszewski wrote (in Thousand Suns) 
 SF writers generally didn’t believe that science or technology would make human beings any better than their ancestors. Future men would fall victim to the same vices and sins as have all men. The only difference technology makes is that it gives human beings a broader canvas on which to exhibit their viciousness.  
he goes on to write;  Imperial SF, unlike more contemporary science fiction, is not really about technology. That is, technology is obviously important, since it’s the means by which adventurers travel from world to world, but it is not the focus of the genre. 

I want my game to by just the same as that. The Tech is only setting window dressing. I don't really want to do an Imperial Sci-fi however. I'll do something more contemporary in style but which shares most of the underpinnings of pulp and imperial sci-fi.
I know I dont want just a Millitary-Sci-fi game. Mostly mil-sci-fi just doesn't work great at the game table. YMMV. 
However I know I do want a few cool Aliens which act as a menace out in the Deeps.      

I know I like a whole bunch of stuff and I want to list it down as inspirations I can turn to. 

Novels:
Top of the list has to be Newtons Wake: A space opera
Also must have Karl Shroder's Permanence and Virga series
Andrew S. Swann for his Moreau and Apotheosis series
The Long Run: A Tale of the Continuing Time by Daniel Keys Moran

Rama by Arthur C. Clark.
Allen Steele's Near Space series in particular  Labyrinth of Night
Dan Simmons Cantos
Brin, David --- The Uplift series
Pohl, Frederick --- Gateway
A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge

Ok so what needs to be in the mix? I want a settled and civilized hub and "spokes" out from that hub which are fraught with danger. Passage either way will be prohibitive [this is a setting conceit to make the players stay out where the action is]. So travel to the frontiers is expensive - except if you win the Outbound lottery - and time consuming - I think its safe to say it requires cryo-sleep for a number of reasons.     

I don't think we need to go to far off the farm. Just like D&D in its fantasy settings doesn't stray to far.

We have to have Earth - its a dystopia you know how everyone loves the imagery of Blade-runner? Well so do I, so that is more or less the way Earth looks. However there is a tether/beanstalk reaching down from orbit and connecting to:
Midway Station - this is earths major space side space port station. It accepts and launches most of the missions into Near Space which includes the moon.
Moonbase Alpha - This is the moons version of Midway there is also mining on the moon for Caesium oxide and Helium-3 but its also the new center of space transportation
Mars and Venus both have colonies.
Mars has a system of ruins of an ancient civilization the most notable of which is the Fallen Needle and the Queharg Temple complex. Hence tourism, research and archeology are important. 
Venus has its Aerostats and cloud cities.
The Asteroid belt is a teaming boom town with the asteroids proving to be far richer then initially supposed 
The Jovians have a civilization as well consisting of mining the gas giant and its moons

Next comes initial thoughts about space travel...