Satellites led the way...

After WWII, rocket ships highlighted early visions of the future, overshadowing orbital equipment like satellites and energy collectors ala space solar power.

But it was a satellite that kicked off the Space Age.

Ironically, when Sputnik was launched and a real satellite was up there, they became even less a topic for "visions of the future".

In this pre-Sputnik Bonestell image from, Exploration of Mars (1956), an "artificial satellite of the future" floats by Cape Cod and Long Island.

How about that shape?