Race into Space. Mars 1982
I
recently strolled into an antique shop for a bit of a browse. Whilst
strolling around and trying not to bump into and break anything, I found
on a book shelve a large pile of Brooke Bond Picture card albums,
all with full sets of picture cards stuck in them. Now for some time I
have been after the Race into Space picture card album. The simple
reason for this is because The Race into Space was my favorite Brooke
Bond picture card album.
When I was about 7 years old, I became quite obsessed about space
flight and was convinced that by the 21st Century myself and my 21st
Century future family would be able to pop into a travel agents and book
a holiday on the moon or Mars. So on finding the Race into Space
picture card album I new I had to buy it (despite the cost) Once back
home coffee made, I flicked through my prize find. The card album was
perfect, dating from 1971 it had a full set of 50 cards. Some stuck in
upside down, most of them a little bit wonky. What really struck me was
the pure optimism and enthusiasm about the future of Space travel in the
card album and at the time. Outlined were the NASA plans for Space
Stations and Moon Bases by the late 70s and the 1st Manned trip to Mars
in 1981, to return to earth triumphant in 1983. The Satellites and
probes all had exciting and thrilling names like Explorer, Transit,
Cosmos, Zond and The Grand Tour. With ideas and names like this being banded about back then, I realise now that my younger selfs ideas of holidays on the moon
and Mars in the 21st Century, were not without at least some day
dreamed substance. It is briefly mentioned in the card album that the
Mars Mission and Moon Bases would be very expensive. Perhaps a slight
understatement there. Anyway back home Coffee made I decided to have a
read of The Race into Space book, I also decided to catch up with Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone from the previous Sunday. The featured album was The Mighty Sun Ra's Space is the place. Maybe it still is.
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