Let's suppose that the conspiracy theorists are right in this at least, and by the mid-Sixties scientists have judged that the Van Allen belts are indeed impassible, not only to humans, but also to any electronics. That leaves only the possibility launching from the polar regions, which would obviously be prohibitively expensive.
What is the effect on popular culture of realising that even the nearest reaches of 'Outer Space' are inaccessible for the current generation, and perhaps forever?
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What is the effect on popular culture of realising that even the nearest reaches of 'Outer Space' are inaccessible for the current generation, and perhaps forever?
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