The International Space Station was finished a century and a half after the idea of a space station was born, but it wasn't NASA's first attempt at a massive, multinational orbital outpost. Space Station Freedom was the International Space Station's predecessor intended to launch deep space missions, the cornerstone of the first President Bush's unrealized longterm plan to send humans to Mars.

For more on space stations before the ISS, and to see how Freedom fits into the whole story, check out the latest article over on Vintage Space: http://www.popsci.com/briefhistorys...

There's plenty more olde timey space to explore on Vintage Space, too! http://www.popsci.com/blognetwork/vi...

And don't forget my new book, Breaking the Chains of Gravity, is available now in the UK and January 12 in the US, Canada, Australia, and India (I think!). You can (pre)order your copy on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/BreakingChains...

I'm also selling signed hardcover editions of my book on my website! Get your copy here: http://amyshirateitel.com/shop/

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