Vessel

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ALTHOUGH I’VE ALWAYS been a space geek, writing Vessel took a great deal of research. NASA’s collection of websites is a treasure trove of information not just on missions but also on procedures, history, and general astronomy. Specific mission logs, in particular, gave me a real feel for how astronauts interact with one another. Also immensely helpful (and highly recommended) is Mary Roach’s book Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void.

Unexpectedly, a NASA press conference changed everything about this book after the first draft was complete. On February 22, 2017, NASA announced that the Spitzer Space Telescope had discovered a record-breaking seven planets within the habitable zone of a single star. All seven planets could possibly contain liquid water and be habitable. In my first draft, the destination planet was Kepler-452b, which is much farther away. I couldn’t resist updating the story with the new discovery.

The biggest issue there, however, is that in the two years since, more things have been learned about the TRAPPIST-1 planets. This book represents the things that were known and conjectured in 2017, and may no longer be accurate. That said, as much as I’ve striven for overall accuracy, story comes first, and some details may have been changed to accommodate the story.

In other words, any errors, intentional or otherwise, are entirely on me.

Aside from research, I owe a great deal to the following people: Jack Z. Ray and Sarah Feldpausch brainstormed with me to come up with TRAPPIST-1f’s unique fauna and flora, and how they intertwine within their life cycles. JoAnn Lucas, LMSW, gave me valuable insights into the symptoms of PTSD and how sufferers are affected. And to Dawn and Jason Honhera, for a lifeline just when I needed it.

Finally, endless thanks to Emily Bestler and Lara Jones with Emily Bestler Books, Lanie Davis and the rest of the staff at Alloy Entertainment, and, of course, Jennifer Udden, the best literary agent I could have hoped for.