I grew up on a steady diet of science fiction where humanity travelled as freely through space as we do on Earth. Our venture into space so far does not reflect the science fiction I read as a young man. Where the 20th century launched us for the first time into and beyond our atmosphere, the 21st to date has largely remained near-Earth orbit experience for humans in space. Human-built robots have been the spacefarers exploring the planets of the Inner and Outer Solar System and with spacecraft launched in the 1970s reaching interstellar space.

Rockets are a Chinese invention with reference to them as useful for both military and celebratory purposes. The Chinese defended themselves against the 13th century Mongol invasion using rockets with little effect. Through trans-Asian trade, rockets were introduced to Europe in the 14th century. Rockets primarily were powered arrows at this time. In the 19th…