This piece simply shows what a manned space mission in the future could look like from above Earth. The first humans launched into space was in 1961, when both the USSR and US were successful in reaching outer space and this began the Space Race during the Cold War Era between the two countries. Although they reach spaced, no shuttles or manned missions would begin until after 1981. Bonestell's image depicts what a mission could possible look like with the fuselage and shuttle drifting into space. He was able to create this image before this was even possible and shows a very accurate depiction of it. Although simple. Bonestell keeps the focus on how vast yet small the Earth seems up in space, giving the viewer an early glimpse of how amazing it is from up there.