Tripping Toward Mars

What happens when the co-commander of NASA’s first crewed mission to Mars becomes a criminal defendant?

Tripping Toward Mars, a darkly funny, near-future sci-fi novel of space, politics, and survival, has the answer.

Astronaut Addy Johnson was supposed to be the face of humanity’s next great leap. Instead, he’s standing trial in federal court.

Addy and his wife, Bria, have secured coveted spots on NASA’s first crewed mission to Mars, joining another married couple who happen to be their closest friends—and bandmates. Before launch, they navigate a surprise hit record, dodge a media scandal, and endure brutal survival training in Antarctica as they prepare for a journey powered by cutting-edge nuclear thermal propulsion.

Then, millions of miles from Earth, Addy makes a decision.

Determined to beat international rivals to the Red Planet, he defies Mission Control—and the warnings of his own crew—by taking a gamble that jeopardizes not only the mission, but their safe return home. Back on Earth, the fallout is swift and political, fueled by a reality-TV President eager to hurl NASA into a black hole. For Addy’s jury, the question goes beyond whether he broke protocol.

Was he a reckless glory seeker—or a hero?

Blending scientific authenticity with biting satire—and featuring a cast that includes amorous robots and a power-hungry space mogul—Tripping Toward Mars explores ego, loyalty, marriage, and the perilous cost of being first.

Because the greatest danger isn’t Mars itself—it’s the choices we make along the way.