Solar System Exploration @50 commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the first successful planetary mission, Mariner 2 sent to Venus. The NASA History Program Office, the Division of Space History at the National Air and Space Museum, the NASA Science Mission Directorate, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory are co-hosting this two-day symposium. Through the generous support of Lockheed Martin, the symposium is being held at the Lockheed Martin Global Vision Center in the Crystal City complex in Arlington, VA.

The purpose of this symposium is to consider, over the more than fifty year history of the space age, what we have learned about the other bodies of the solar system and the process whereby we have learned it. This symposium seeks to pursue broader questions relating to the history of planetary exploration. Panelists speaking at the symposium include participants who were “there at the creation,” current scientists and researchers, historians and analysts from around the world. A select collection of the papers presented at the symposium will be published as a book.

Advance registration is required, but the event is free and open to the public. The registration website will open shortly. In the meantime you can see the current program at: http://history.nasa.gov/Solar%20System%20Exploration%20@%2050%20Planned%20program.pdf

The symposium will be webcast live and you can follow us on social media with the hashtag #Planets50.