In Pictures: NASA’s retro travel posters imagine a bright future for space tourism
- Text by Alex King
- Photography by NASA Jet Propulsion Lab/Invisible Creature
The people at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab have their eyes firmly on the future. The California-based outfit is America’s top centre for robotic exploration of the solar system and have 19 spacecraft carrying out astronomy missions as we speak.
For the JPL, the future is space travel. To help bring that vision to life for the average earth-dweller, they reached out to design agency Invisible Creature – who in turn looked to the past.
Artists and brothers Don and Ryan Clark drew on advertising from travel’s ‘golden age’ to ’60s sci-fi paperback covers. They channelled the spirit of their grandfather, who for over 30 years worked as an illustrator at the Ames Research Center, where he helped NASA sketch out the look of the future.
Their amazing retro advertising posters imagine a brave new universe where balloon rides on Jupiter are a great choice for a weekend and where Earth is just another destination in a solar system of potential holiday destinations.
Check out the full Visions of the Future series at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
Moshpits & kickflips at the Volcom Garden Experience 2026
Family affair — Last weekend, the skate, surf and snow culture brand hosted a free mini festival in its European backyard of Biarritz. We went along and chatted to legendary artist and surfer Ozzie Wright.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Horst Festival is a blueprint for a creative, collective future
Hymn — Highlighted by an engrossing performance directed by Fallon Mayanja, the 2026 edition was a showcase of ASIAT Park’s ever-evolving space as an incubator for art, music and creativity.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Venice Biennale will not award artists from Israel & Russia due to war crime accusations
Art Not Genocide — Both countries will still be allowed to exhibit work at their respective pavilions, but be excluded from judging considerations, as they have leaders facing arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court.
Written by: Noah Petersons
“I didn’t care if I got sacked”: Sleazenation’s Scott King in conversation with Radge’s Meg McWilliams
Radgenation — For our 20th Anniversary Issue, Huck’s editor Josh Jones sits down with the legendary art director and the founder of a new magazine from England’s northeast to talk about taking risks, crafting singular covers and disrupting the middle class dominance of the creative industries.
Written by: Josh Jones
Joe Bloom’s View From a Bridge
More stories, more human — The artist and creator of the vertical video generation’s most loved storytelling platform explains the process behind creating the show, and the importance of bucking trends.
Written by: Isaac Muk
When David Wojnarowicz became Arthur Rimbaud
Arthur Rimbaud in New York — In 1978, the American artist and his friends donned masks to pay tribute to the French poet, who was born a century before him. Miss Rosen traces the differing yet parallel lives of the queer revolutionaries.
Written by: Miss Rosen
