Hail to the Kaplan!

It was really good to see Kevin's recent model of the Astran Kaplan on his floating dais, it reminded me of the strip published in issue 15 of TV21, which showed the 'Space Border Battle' between Earth forces and the Astran fleet. I think I came across it in a reprint in Countdown comic in the seventies, but the Earth Space Fleet also appeared in the TV21 1969 annual in the 'Battle Breakdown' article. beautifully illustrated by Mike Noble, it featured a really unusual design for the Earth space vehicles.

It would be many years later that I would come across an early concept by Lockheed Missiles & Space Company for a 216-foot Nuclear Space Station from around 1963. 

It appears to be a modular construction, which can be built in different configurations and would have a large compliment of astronauts. A patent registration was granted for the design, so presumably it would appear in the public domain.

Clearly, Mike Noble would have been aware of the image, as his version is clearly based on the concept, but streamlined to allow for clarity.

Searching other issues of TV 21 - I found they actually used the same illustration for a space article in Issue 36!

Lyon's Maid who had connections with Gerry Anderson merchandise, and included Fireball XL5 in their advertising for Zoom lollies and later Captain Scarlet with the Orbit lolly, produced a series of cards, entitled 'Into the Unknown' which also featured the Lockheed design.