off, there was none of that old-fashioned FIVE-FOUR-THREE-TWO-ONE-ZERO business (39). Launches in the book were much more sophisticated and relaxed. However, since launches today still use the countdown, the book seems to refer to present day launches as old-fashioned (39). While the book makes the present day space program seem old fashioned, it also makes the modern day outer space structures seem out of date. Since the book sets such high standards for outer space structures, present day space stations are unlikely to match the books expectations by the year 2001. Clarke created fictional space stations that were the nerve centers for spaceflight. The impressive . . . base was a closed system, like a tiny working model of Earth itself (Clarke 56). The stations had become places away from earth for humankind to flourish. Today, the concept and use of space stations are still in their infancy. Modern day scientists are having . . . inspired visions of travel to the Moon for longer periodsmonths or yearsand residence there in either small bases or large colonies (Lewis 207). Once the space program accomplishes these stations there would be colonists mining for lunar resourceshydrogen, helium or minerals for commercial or industrial uses on Earth or Space (207). Similarly, Clarke had proposed the use of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus (Clarke 56). Clarke uses ideas of space stations in the book that are too advanced to bring to reality, similarly, he did the same with space travel. Although the current space program is making forward progress in space travel, it is still distant from achieving certain technologies as seen in the book. Unfortunately, at times many modern day scientists tend to view with pessimism the idea of advancing space travel. Many feel If our target is a galaxy on the outer edge of the universe, and the universe is expanding according to the established facts, the target may be recedin...
