The space race, and lunar landings, along with Concorde were perhaps the last gasp of the post-war optimism and prestige science projects. It was still just pos

The space race, and lunar landings, along with Concorde were perhaps the last gasp of the post-war optimism and prestige science projects. It was still just possible to justify them for national pride rather than balance sheet. Quite a change from the 40s and 50s and the transatlantic blur of experimental aircraft - X planes, VSTOL, supersonic, first jet airliner prototype in 1949, Concorde protoype in 1969. Nuclear power was meant to usher in an era of cheap, abundant, clean energy, and science had a pretty positive rep. I've no doubt the effects of oil crisis and following recession put paid to an awful lot of NASA plans. As they'd proved they could do it, and did so first, I expect politicians saw less point in keep going back. The arrival of market forces for everything with Reagan and Thatcher will have further limited, seeing plans for space stations and bases shelved and building small probes instead. This was the era of the artists impressions. Of things we'd never see. Since then it's more about balance sheets and budgets if you want a large project. Military excepted.