The Cockroach Queen

“Lost? I’m sincerely hoping your definition of that word differs from my own.” “I had the vile tucked away in my coat, I swear I did!” Almeida’s lips trembled between stammers. “Just like you wanted, I purchased the Lawa from Elyas’s shop and paid the extra coin to keep it all mum. Then I put […]

New Martian Weekly Space Report – January 6

Click for media player. This week we cover the government shutdown’s impact on NASA, New Horizons flyby of the Kuiper Belt Object, China landing on the far side of the moon, and the acquisition of asteroid mining company Deep Space Industries.

New Martian Weekly Space Report – December 9

Click for media player. This week the report covers: IAU on Titan Arrival at the asteroid Bennu China launching a rover to the far side of the moon A failed launch for the small sat launch provider Astra Space Taking a look at the week ahead

The New Martian Weekly(ish) Report – December 2nd, 2018

Click on in to view the media player. This week we check out: International collaborators for the Mars InSight probe 9 U.S. Companies selected to bid for Lunar Landers Virgin Galactic’s possible flight into space Amazon and Lockheed Martin joining for ground station services Looking forward to next week

The New Martian Weekly Report – October 14, 2018

(You’ll need to click on the page to view the audio player.) Something like a year ago, a good friend suggested that I produce a weekly space news podcast; a quick and digestible show that rounds-up the news of the week. Finally, here we are! The goal is a five-minute guide that focuses on just […]

Micau’s Contract

Ash landed on Micau’s shoulders like delicate snowflakes. He was a dot among the scorched hills stretching beyond sight – burnt everywhere except for a narrow path of green. That path seemed blessed, protected from the once fierce fires as though the flames found a flowing rive of cool water in those blades of grass. […]

The Beast and Its Companion

Light was a fable that Micau heard about from snakes that looked like gnarled trees and from birds that rarely sang. The child listened to the sounds of these creatures stirring from above. Some hisses would slither into words – eyes, dark and damp – some calls into songs that made Micau walk a little […]

Red Water

Kali could’ve spotted Red Shui’s tower from miles away a few years ago. Its skyscraper height grooved on both sides like a vertical waves flowed into the Martian dirt – it seemed to be growing out of the ground. But with the dust storm now in its third year, Kali couldn’t make out anything but […]

Out of Reach

Ground control to Major Tom..

Commander Parker hung in the copula of the International Space Station, nodding his head to the song etched in his mind.

Ground control to Major Tom…

The Astronaut Gardner

The trowel felt like a string was pulling it towards the ground. Diane relented to the force and plunged the tool into the soil, satisfyingly sliding into the damp garden. Her gloves were sitting back on the bench, a lifetime of calluses nearly disappeared after a year orbiting on Station, and she had no intention […]