Skylab

Published in 1869, Edward Everett Hale’s novella "The Brick Moon" is an early work of science fiction that explores the launch of a brick satellite intended for navigation, which unexpectedly carries passengers into space. The story offers a fictional account akin to a space station and raises thought-provoking questions about human survival and life beyond Earth. Its popularity led to a more detailed sequel, "Life on the Brick Moon," and it is recognized as one of the earliest narratives imagining human space habitation.