This Is What People Thought the Future of Space Travel Would Look Like (15 Pics)

Neill Lynskey Published 03/31/2025 in Science & Technology

Space travel is becoming a bigger part of our world, and inching closer to being a regular part of life.

But back in the day, there was almost no difference between concepts of real space travel and sci-fi. Although it might look like art ripped out of a vintage fantasy magazine, these are actual concepts from NASA and other research groups showing the direction they truly believed space travel was headed.

Check out some primitive space suits, strange shuttles, and space colonies the people of the past probably thought we'd be living in by now.

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1. Cutaway view of bernal sphere.
Art by Rick Guidice of NASA’s Ames Research Center
2.
Art by Rick Guidice of NASA’s Ames Research Center
3. Exterior view of a double cylinder colony.
Art by Rick Guidice of NASA’s Ames Research Center
4. Interior of a toroidal colony.
Art by Rick Guidice of NASA’s Ames Research Center
5. Early Concept for the Space Station
via NASA Archives
6. Interior view of a cylindrical colony with lakes and windows.
Art by Rick Guidice of NASA’s Ames Research Center
7. Spaceship Port for Space ships to dock and refuel (1930)
u/Aeromarine_eng
8. Concept for Mars Colony, 1995
9. Space Shuttle Concept art via NASA
10. Space Shuttle and Probe Concept Art circa 1970
11. Early design for the Space Shuttle Circa 1960
12. Early Concept for Space Suits, 1952
13. 1971 Space Shuttle Concept Art
14. 1963 Concept Art for the Canceled U.S. Dyna-Soar Project
15. Boeing Promotional Art for Space Travel, 1960

1. Cutaway view of bernal sphere.
Art by Rick Guidice of NASA’s Ames Research Center
2.
Art by Rick Guidice of NASA’s Ames Research Center
3. Exterior view of a double cylinder colony.
Art by Rick Guidice of NASA’s Ames Research Center
4. Interior of a toroidal colony.
Art by Rick Guidice of NASA’s Ames Research Center
5. Early Concept for the Space Station
via NASA Archives
6. Interior view of a cylindrical colony with lakes and windows.
Art by Rick Guidice of NASA’s Ames Research Center
7. Spaceship Port for Space ships to dock and refuel (1930)
u/Aeromarine_eng
8. Concept for Mars Colony, 1995
9. Space Shuttle Concept art via NASA
10. Space Shuttle and Probe Concept Art circa 1970
11. Early design for the Space Shuttle Circa 1960
12. Early Concept for Space Suits, 1952
13. 1971 Space Shuttle Concept Art
14. 1963 Concept Art for the Canceled U.S. Dyna-Soar Project
15. Boeing Promotional Art for Space Travel, 1960