1

Ray Bradbury

Image: Rod Long

Perhaps the most emblematic name in American science fiction, Ray Bradbury was an author and screenwriter best known for his novel Fahrenheit 451 , and his short story collections The Martian Chronicles , and The Illustrated Man .

His works not only imagine what extraterrestrial colonies might be like but also explore how such experiences would affect humans on a deeply personal level. His prose is both poetic and informative, making it accessible to both young and adult readers alike.

2

Philip K. Dick

Image: Filip Filkovic Philatz

If you’ve ever seen the movie Blade Runner or the TV series The Man in the High Castle , then you’ve been exposed to the work of Philip K. Dick. This prolific novelist wrote numerous novels and short stories that explore philosophical and social questions such as the nature of reality, human nature, and characters struggling against illusory environments, monopolistic corporations, and authoritarian governments.

His novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was the basis for Blade Runner and his works have earned him countless awards all over the world.

3

William Gibson

Image: Brian McGowan

The creator of the now-ubiquitous term "cyberspace," William Gibson was a speculative fiction writer whose works explore the effects of technology, cybernetics, and computer networks on humans (fans of Black Mirror will likely find this author to their liking).

His first novel, Neuromancer , was credited with revitalizing science fiction literature in the 1980s, and he was described in 1999 as "probably the most important novelist of the past two decades.

4

L. Ron Hubbard

Image: Luna Wang

"While he is now more famous for founding Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard was a genuine science fiction writer who authored works such as Battlefield Earth, To the Stars, Buckskin Brigades, and Death’s Deputy , among other titles.

Hubbard was quite a prolific pulp science fiction and fantasy writer in his early career and, in 1950, he published Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health , establishing organizations to promote and practice Dianetics techniques.

5

Theodore Sturgeon

Image: Rod Long

A critic turned writer, Theodore Sturgeon wrote over 120 short stories, 11 novels, and even a handful of scripts for the original Star Trek television series. His first science fiction novel, More Than Human , won the 1954 International Fantasy Award for that year's best novel.

Though he was not as well known to the general public as contemporaries like Isaac Asimov or Ray Bradbury, Sturgeon gained recognition among readers of mid-20th-century science fiction anthologies. At the height of his popularity in the 1950s, he was the most anthologized English-language author alive.

6

Alfred Bester

Image: Steve Johnson

One of the few writers credited with inventing modern science fiction, according to one of his colleagues, Alfred Bester was an author, TV, radio, and comics scriptwriter, and magazine editor. His novel, The Demolished Man , was the first winner of the Hugo Awards in 1953.

While working as a scriptwriter for DC Comics, he created the supervillain Solomon Grundy and also wrote extensively for television, magazines, and radio.

7

H. P. Lovecraft

Image: Alejandro Piñero Amerio

An author whose work is as famous in the science fiction genre as it is in horror, H. P. Lovecraft was a writer of science fiction, fantasy, horror fiction, and a mixture of all these genres. His most notable work is the Cthulhu Mythos .

Some of his more popular works include The Call of Cthulhu, At the Mountains of Madness, The Shadow over Innsmouth , and The Shadow Out of Time . The central theme of his books is cosmicism, a theory dictating that "there is no recognizable divine presence, such as a god, in the universe, and that humans are particularly insignificant in the larger scheme of intergalactic existence."

8

Frank Herbert

Image: Pierre Bamin

Franklin Patrick Herbert Jr. is best known for writing the best-selling science fiction novel of all time, 1965's Dune , along with its five sequels. He also wrote short stories and worked as a newspaper journalist, photographer, book reviewer, ecological consultant, and lecturer.

His famous saga, set in the distant future and spanning millennia, explores complex themes, such as the long-term survival of the human species, human evolution, planetary science and ecology, and the intersection of religion, politics, economics, sex, and power in a future where humanity has long since developed interstellar travel and colonized thousands of worlds.

9

Ursula K. Le Guin

Image: Karsten Klemme

With a literary career spanning nearly sixty years, Ursula Kroeber Le Guin is another legendary name on this list. She is best known for her works of speculative fiction, including science fiction works set in her Hainish universe and the Earthsea fantasy series.

Frequently described as a science fiction author, Le Guin has also been called a "major voice in American letters," though she once said she would prefer to be known as an "American novelist."

10

Orson Scott Card

Image: Greg Rakozy

The only person to have won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award in consecutive years, both for his novel Ender’s Game , and its sequel, Speaker for the Dead , Orson Scott Card is a science fiction writer who often features characters with exceptional gifts who make difficult choices with high stakes. Since 1979, he has published over 50 novels and 45 short stories.

During his childhood, Card read children's classics and popular novels, his favorite book being Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper . He often refers to works by Robert A. Heinlein and J. R. R. Tolkien as sources of inspiration.

1

Federal holiday

Image: Kyrie kim

Every year in America, we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the 3rd Monday of January. This date was chosen because MLK was born on January 15, 1929, which fell on a Thursday.

But did you know that MLK Day is the only US federal holiday that celebrates the birthday of someone who wasn't a US president? Can you guess what the other one is? That’s right—it’s Presidents’ Day, observed on the 3rd Monday of February in honor of George Washington’s birthday.

2

Not afraid

Image: Grant Durr

If there’s one thing that defines MLK, it’s his bravery. And just as he was not afraid to confront the oppressive norms of his time, neither was he afraid of jail. In fact, he was arrested between 25 and 30 times, always for reasons related to his nonviolent activism.

It was during one of these arrests, in 1963, that he wrote his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail.

3

Improvisation

Image: Demure Storyteller

Martin Luther King Jr.'s " I Have a Dream" speech remains one of the most famous speeches in the world to this day. Those powerful, inspiring words could only come from a brilliant mind. But did you know that part of his speech was improvised?

That's right! On August 28, 1963, MLK impressed the world from the Lincoln Memorial steps with a carefully prepared speech, but he also added spontaneous thoughts inspired by the excitement of the moment. In fact, the speech's most famous words—the ones that gave it its title—weren’t part of the original draft.

4

Star Trek fan

Image: Stefan Cosma

MLK was also someone who appreciated quality TV. He was known to be a fan of the original Star Trek series.

But he wasn't just a fan—he went on to influence the show! Actress Nichelle Nichols, best known for playing Lieutenant Uhura, was about to leave the show, but she met King, and he encouraged her to stay. He believed that Nichols' role was crucial in inspiring young African Americans.

5

Birth name

Image: insung yoon

The famous Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, as Michael King Jr. in Atlanta, Georgia, named after his father, Michael King Sr. However, a few years later, that would change.

In 1934, after learning about Martin Luther, the leader of the Protestant Reformation, Michael King Sr. decided to change both his own name and his son’s to Martin Luther King Sr. and Martin Luther King Jr., respectively.

6

College at 15

Image: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

Martin Luther King Jr. skipped several grades and entered college at the young age of 15! Given his remarkable intelligence, this isn’t surprising, but his brilliance never fails to impress.

In 1944, he was admitted to Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. His studies there helped shape his critical perspective on society and its dynamics. Additionally, it was during his time at Morehouse that he decided to become a minister.

7

The first on Time

Image: NordWood Themes

Time magazine's Person of the Year (originally called "Man of the Year") debuted in 1927, with American aviator Charles Lindbergh gracing the cover.

It took 36 years for the first African American to earn this recognition. Of course, that honor went to Martin Luther King Jr., who was named Person of the Year in 1963 , following the historic March on Washington and his unforgettable " I Have a Dream " speech.

8

Julia Roberts!

Image: Nikhil Mistry

Just when you think there are no more surprises , here’s a fact that will astonish you: What do Martin Luther King Jr. and actress Julia Roberts have in common?

It turns out that Julia Roberts’ mom, Betty Lou Bredemus, was an active member of the Civil Rights Movement—even during her pregnancy—making her well-known to Martin Luther King Jr.'s family. And here’s the surprising part: MLK’s parents helped cover the medical expenses for Julia Roberts’ birth!

9

He lived to 39

Image: Unseen Histories

His impressive career, filled with groundbreaking achievements, might lead us to believe that he had many years to achieve all of it.

However, the minister was still a young man when he was tragically attacked on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. Sadly, Martin Luther King Jr. lived to be only 39 years old.

10

Writer

Image: Aaron Burden

MLK was not only a leader, activist, thinker, pastor, and Nobel Peace Prize winner; he was also a writer. That's right! King Jr. wrote several articles, letters, and books.

Among the most cited are his books Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story (1958), Strength to Love (1963), Why We Can't Wait (1964), Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (1967), and the Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963).

1

Flight Day 1: "Sleepyhead" by Young & Sick

The first morning in microgravity is notoriously disorienting. As the crew adjusted to the puffy face caused by fluid shifts and the novelty of floating out of their sleeping bags, "Sleepyhead" by the American band Young & Sick provided a fittingly ethereal backdrop.

The 2018 track’s swirling synths and falsetto vocals mirror the dreamlike quality of looking back at a receding Florida coastline from thousands of miles away. It’s a nice way to start a mission that is anything but gentle during the initial ascent.

2

Flight Day 2: "Green Light" by John Legend

By the second day, the adrenaline of launch begins to settle into the reality of the mission's objectives. "Green Light," a collaboration between John Legend and American rapper André 3000, served as the literal and figurative signal to get to work.

For the Artemis II crew, this funk-infused track, released in 2008, played as they performed the first critical proximity operations with the ICPS (Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage), testing Orion’s handling before the final "green light" for the Trans-Lunar Injection.

3

Flight Day 3: "In a Daydream" by Freddy Jones Band

As Orion moved further into the void, the Earth, seen through the window, began to shrink. The Freddy Jones Band’s 1993 rock hit "In a Daydream" captured the mid-transit vibe perfectly.

The song is famous for its guitar work and relaxed tempo. It evokes the feeling of being untethered—a literal reality for four humans traveling toward a destination that has remained unvisited for over 50 years.

4

Flight Day 4: "Pink Pony Club" by Chappell Roan

In space missions, morale is a critical component. The inclusion of Chappell Roan’s 2020 cult hit "Pink Pony Club" brought a burst of high-camp energy and neon-drenched pop to the capsule.

Roan’s anthem about self-discovery and finding your place is a fan favorite on Earth, but it took on a new meaning in the stars. The contrast between the sterile, high-tech interior of Orion and the song’s lyrics about a shimmering dance floor in West Hollywood is the kind of humor and humanity that keeps a crew grounded while they are physically anything but.

5

Flight Day 5: "Working Class Heroes (Work)" by CeeLo Green

Flight Day 5 is the heart of the grind. Deep-space transit involves constant system checks, radiation monitoring, and exercise routines to prevent bone density loss. CeeLo Green’s 2015 "Working Class Heroes (Work)" served as the anthem for the mission's core. The track’s heavy beat and gospel-inflected vocals emphasize the dignity of labor; beneath the glory of the Moon mission is the hard, repetitive work of thousands of engineers on the ground and four highly trained professionals in the sky.

6

Flight Day 6: "Good Morning" by Mandisa, TobyMac

As the crew prepared for the lunar flyby, they needed a jolt of pure optimism. Mandisa’s 2011 "Good Morning" is a blend of pop and gospel that is impossible to listen to without moving. Mandisa, a Grammy winner and American Idol alumna, often spoke about music as a tool for resilience, a quality the Artemis crew embodied as they crossed the threshold into the Moon’s gravitational sphere of influence.

7

Flight Day 7: "Tokyo Drifting" by Denzel Curry and Glass Animals

The slingshot around the Moon is the fastest part of the journey. To match the velocity of a lunar gravity assist, the crew chose the frantic energy of "Tokyo Drifting." The brass fanfares and aggressive flow of the 2019 collaboration between Florida rapper Denzel Curry and British indie band Glass Animals provided the perfect sonic environment for the maneuvers as Orion whipped around the lunar far side, briefly losing communication with Earth.

8

Flight Day 8: "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie

As Orion turned its nose back toward home, the reality of reentry began to emerge. There’s probably no song in rock and roll history that captures the tension of high-stakes environments better than "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie (1981). The song’s message of empathy and humanity in the face of immense stress is a fitting tribute to the international cooperation that made the Artemis program possible.

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Flight Day 9: "Lonesome Drifter" by Charley Crockett

The pen-ultimate day of the mission is often a reflective one. Looking back at the Moon while the Earth grows larger in the forward view creates a unique sense of isolation and belonging. Charley Crockett’s "Lonesome Drifter" (2025) provided the neo-country soul necessary for this moment. Crockett’s music often deals with wandering and the search for home. His deep, baritone voice echoing through the Orion cabin emphasized the lonely nature of the long trip back across the cosmos.

10

Flight Day 10: "Run to the Water" by Live

The final wake-up call of the mission was a literal instruction. As Orion plummeted through the atmosphere at Mach 25, 2026, aiming for a precision splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, the 1999 hit "Run to the Water" by Live signaled the end of the journey. The song’s soaring chorus and themes of return and renewal coincided with the deployment of Orion’s eleven parachutes. After the capsules finally hit the water, the crew returned to their families, bringing a new era of lunar exploration back to Earth.