Science And Technology: Engineering
Researched by Dana Lubich

2001: A Space Odyssey presented a rich, visual tableau, not only of the universe's natural wonders, but of the vehicles to get you there, and the bases to stay at, setting the standard for all sequels to follow.

To demonstrate the forethought invested into the designs, with very few exceptions, a screening of the movie today seems just as fresh as when it first premiered in 1968. As Piers Bizony states in his book "2001 Filming the Future," "this kind of hardware makes sense" (unlike the Star Wars variety of fantasy ships,) and look as if "they should have been built by now." This is a testament to the works of Frederick Ordway, Harry Lange and their colleagues in industry; the artistry of Douglas Trumbull, Con Pederson and so many others, named and unnamed, in Stanley Kubrick's "space program."

Firebird IV from 2001, top image: GM Archival Photographs of FUTURAMA II presented courtesy of Bradd Schiffman, John Karpiscak, Ray Dashner.

This section contains an inventory of engineering marvels, both seen and unseen, categorized under each of the four story-years in the "Space Odyssey" series.

Your comments and suggestions are most welcomed-as are design proposals for the unseen, fictitious vehicles, bases, etc., of each story, as long as they adhere to the strict rule of thumb of believability.

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