It looks like we're finally go for launch...
It’s looking really good for Peregrine Mission One (carrying our payload on the DHL Moonbox!) to launch on Jan 8th! If we miss that launch window for any reason, there are additional launch windows on the 9th, 10th, and 11th.
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT
I’ll be featuring 15 of the 125 Writers on the Moon each day. Check out your fellow writers on the official WOTM manifest, including their stories–behind-the stories.
Writers on the Moon, Manifest #1-15
The first fifteen Manifest authors represent the diversity we have on board: a range of genres (hopepunk climate fiction, SF & Fantasy, YA, romance, kids’ stories), form (novels, short story collections, trilogies), and authors from all over our green-and-blue marble (Germany, Canada, France, but mostly US-based indie authors).
The Stories Behind the Stories give a peek into the lives behind the books. Susan Kaye Quinn, originator of the Writers on the Moon concept and coordinator of the project talks about how she’s always had her eyes on the stars (a dream shared by many manifest authors, including Bron Rauk-Mitchell). Jaden Wilkes says this is a project of hope (Sue couldn’t agree more). Rysa Walker talks about watching the very first human set foot on the Moon, and the thrill of being able to send her books there (another common theme). John Gregory Hancock says many of his stories start in dreams, and isn’t that (literally and figuratively) the birthplace of many of our greatest accomplishments (including going to the moon)? Rhiannon Frater was born the year of the first moon landing and has found fascination and comfort in that glowing orb ever since. Dale Ivan Smith has built a life, vocation, and career around books, both as an author and librarian, and science fiction was always part of that journey.
Samuel Peralta was so excited about the Writers on the Moon project, he brought many more authors on board via the anthologies he had published. On Samuel’s Stories Behind the Stories page he lists all the authors who are stowaways on Manifest #9 on Peregrine. Sam was further inspired to create his own separate Lunar Codex project, which sought out payloads on other spacecraft to bring the work of artists, writers, and filmmakers from around the world to the moon (we wish Sam, and all moon-bound spacecraft, all the luck!).
In Kody Boye’s story-behind-the-story we get a glimpse into the diversity of the stories Peregrine is carrying: portrayals of mental illness and living with HIV, as well as love and redemption. A.A. Chamberlynn talks about bringing her mage-punk fantasy with three tribes: Sun, Shadow, and Moon. Madeline Freeman sent a futuristic retelling of The Little Mermaid… on Mars. And D. Robert Pease brought his middle grade Sci-Fi, Noah Zarc. Finally, Patrice Fitzgerald brought not only her (often humor-filled) stories and her Beyond the Stars anthologies (and their authors) but also her singing rendition of Fly Me to the Moon.
I absolutely love the range we have represented on this project, truly fulfilling our mission to bring today’s stories to tomorrow’s readers.
Check out our author’s books and stories!
WHERE WE'RE LANDING
Our landing spot has changed (originally Lacus Mortis): it is now at Sinus Vicositatis (Bay of Stickiness). That’s a little closer to the poles and considered of interest for future polar landings and other missions.
It will take us about 3 weeks to get to the Moon! So… launch excitement first and then landing excitement later!
HOW TO WATCH
Follow Astrobotic on social media to watch the launch!
Peregrine’s launch will be covered by NASA TV!
It will also likely be covered by all the Space News folks including NASASpaceFlight which has a YouTube channel.
You can also sign up to watch on NASA’s Commercial Lunary Payload Services Eventbrite Event.
STAY TUNED: I’m thinking about setting up a Discord so we can watch together! More on that soon…
OTHER COOL STUFF
Writers on the Moon listed on Peregrine Mission One’s Wikipedia page.
