Astronaut, The New Game of Outer Space (1962)

Space age card game designed by Truman Rothfus of Des Moines, Iowa, designed when space exploration was a 'brave new world'. Played with 72 illustrated cards, with players contracting to build and launch rockets into orbit. Collect cards to build your rocket's features and then try to launch it by playing alternative cards. Other cards allow you to raise funds, sabotage another player's cards and so on. The rocket cards are in three stages. When you have your chosen three cards, they can be laid end-to-end and you get a nice example of your rocket from the tail up to the cone. Box proclaims "Exciting! Takes You from Base to Space!"