KFL@AI.AI.MIT.EDU ("Keith F. Lynch") (03/13/86)
Many SF authors as early as the 1930s predicted that the first trip to the Moon would occur around 1970. Generally they predicted that by 1986 that we would have colonies on the Moon and Mars, and passenger space liners in regular service. It seems to me that our manned space program is running backwards. In 1969 we had people exploring the Moon. In 1973 we had a space station in low Earth orbit. In 1975 we were able to link up with a Soviet spacecraft. In 1981 we were able to launch people into low Earth orbit. In 1986 we have no space station and cannot do any of these things. Where did we go wrong? ...Keith