A little about me: I'm an older guy who grew up reading great science fiction by such masters as Isaac Asimov, Larry Niven, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, Clifford Simak, and Robert Heinlein. My favorite current authors are Neal Stephenson and Alastair Reynolds. I started writing a few years ago to try to create a book (and now series) that I think my younger self would have loved to read. Hopefully you will, too! And if you have any comments, I promise to always read your emails to me, and provide a response. I love hearing from my readers!
After last month's successful Artemis II mission, sending four astronauts around the Moon and back, what's next?
The next Artemis, in late 2027, will test Orion docking with either or both Moon landers (more on that in a sec) while in Earth orbit. Then in 2028, Artemis IV will finally put people on the Moon once again.
So what's this about two different landers? NASA is still deciding whether to go with SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System (HLS) or Blue Origin’s Blue Moon. The contrast is stark: massive, reusable, high-capacity vs. more traditional, incremental. Here's a brief comparison:
SpaceX HLS
The SpaceX HLS is a specialized variant of the giant Starship spacecraft (the next version is due to launch next week). It's fully reusable with a payload capacity of 100 tons to the lunar surface with orbital refueling. It’s designed not just for landing but for building a sustained lunar presence (cargo, habitats, rovers). The challenges include orbital re-fueling necessary to get that payload to the Moon, and the schedule is aggressive.
Blue Origin Blue Moon
Blue Moon is simpler than HLS, with a more traditional design, which means it has the schedule advantage. It will be much easier to certify for crewed flight. Blue Origin just finished an important environmental test on the MK1 version (MK2 will be the crewed version). The downsides are much less payload capacity and reduced reusability.
So how will NASA decide between the two? Both companies have committed to the 2027 schedule for Artemis III, so if both are ready, Orion will test dock with each lander in low Earth orbit. Whichever one does better will probably be the one chosen for Artemis IV. Each have critical milestones between now and then: SpaceX will test their orbital refueling, and Blue Origin will do a cargo-only landing of the Mk1 version on the Moon.
Which lander do you think will be the one to return to the Moon in 2028?
I'm reading Countdown, the first in a new series from "cozy apocalyptic fiction" writer Millie Copper. The main character is an astronomer who works for a shadowy government/conspiracy outfit. She discovers an asteroid is on its way to wreak havoc on us, and must evade hitmen from her employer, who is trying to keep her quiet so they can shelter all the "important people" before chaos ensues. I'm very interested to see how this evolves into a series, since I'm assuming this book ends with the world-changing catastrophe.
Check out The Survivors, by Richard Rimington, a FREE prequel to the Infinite Void, an epic space opera/adventure series. The series is described by readers as fast-paced and impossible to put down. Give it a try!
Happy Reading!
Rick A. Allen
The Star Riders series:
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A little about me: I'm an older guy who grew up reading great science fiction by such masters as Isaac Asimov, Larry Niven, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlein, Clifford Simak, and Robert Heinlein. My favorite current authors are Neal Stephenson and Alastair Reynolds. I started writing a few years ago to try to create a book (and now series) that I think my younger self would have loved to read. Hopefully you will, too! And if you have any comments, I promise to always read your emails to me, and provide a response. I love hearing from my readers!
View in browser Are Readers Disappearing? Dear Reader, I've seen some disturbing headlines that people are not reading books anymore, including anecdotes about young people being asked why they're reading a book if not assigned by a school to read it. Naturally, as an author, this is a little concerning. But is it accurate? The 2025 American Time Use Survey shows that the number of people reading for pleasure dropped from 28% in 2004 to 16% in 2023. A 2022 Gallup poll indicated the average...
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