Only Just Beginning

Abstract

Our exploration and understanding of the Solar System has made giant steps since we first managed to launch space probes into the heavens. Fifty years ago, before the space age, we speculated that we would find soggy swamps on Venus and saw evidence that Mars was covered with vegetation. This invited science fiction writers to populate these planets’ surfaces with kings and princesses defending mighty cities against hordes of indigenous monsters, and ancient but desperate civilizations digging vast canals to feed water to their dying planet.