The combination of the MEDS flatscreen displays and the real space station bears, to my eye, more than a passing resemblence to the flight deck of the PanAm space clipper in 2001. (The shuttle interior came from a Boeing/Honeywell publicity poster).

I did the image as a reminder that Clarke may not have been all that far off, even if the station isn't wheel-shaped.

2001 is an extraordinary achievement, both artistically and technically, that has, in many ways, still not been equalled. And for many of us who first saw 2001: A Space Odyssey when it first came out, Kubrick's film has been a symbol of the spirit of exploration with which we will meet our destiny in space. On the evening of the last day of the 20th century, my wife, Denise, and I watched Space Station Alpha soar gracefully overhead. New Year's Day, 2001, is a reminder that Clarke's vision is indeed within our reach.

I hope that my image and this article help those in the space program look at the film (and the calendar) not with regret for missed opportunities, but with a well-deserved sense of pride.