Welcome to the world of Rock Hopper

Follow behind-the-scene updates of the sci-fi suspense novel Rock Hopper by author Kenneth Ocklund.

Outtake from the cover of Rock Hopper. Close-up on Toru in a space suit, lost in the asteroid belt
First metal part 3D printed in space
Kenneth Ocklund

Printing in space

Space exploration poses a big logistical problem—apart from the other thousands of problems—in that you have to bring exactly what you need because of the weight, space and cost restrictions. And God help you, if your equipment breaks. Then you're out of luck. It could…

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The crew of a NASA Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird standing by the aircraft in their pressurized flight suits
Kenneth Ocklund

The sincerest form of flattery

I have to admit to something. One important spaceship in my upcoming novel "Rock Hopper", is inspired in part by the legendary Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird jet airplane, used by the United States Air Force (USAF). Airborne for the first time in 1964, it still holds…

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Asteroid falling towards Earth
Kenneth Ocklund

Closing in

I'm getting closer to finishing the novel "Rock Hopper". I've stopped writing and correcting the script. All that is left now in order to publish it, is to find a really great cover design. I always enjoy working with a professional to capture the spirit…

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Spaceport in a winter landscape with spaceships taking off
Kenneth Ocklund

What happens to Spaceport Sweden?

I stumbled across the web site Spaceport Sweden the other day, when doing some research about the Kiruna Airport. I was surprised to learn that the airport also has the ambition to become a spaceport, offering space flights with the Virgin Galactic. The web site…

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Human in a space suit sitting by a spaceship typing on a laptop
Kenneth Ocklund

Finally: First draft

Yeah, I know. Somewhere out there, there's an author eager to give it to me straight: "Hah, first draft! That's nothing! Nothing, I tell you! Now you must proofread, check your structure, prose, tone; re-write, re-write and re-write, again and again". I'm aware 😬. Still.

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Golden retreiver puppy running on grass
Kenneth Ocklund

Summer is a bummer

Summer in Sweden is great. It's fantastic. The sun, the blue dome above, decorated with fluffy white clouds. You want to be out and about, see people, connect with nature, feel the warm breeze. Do nothing productive. Watching the dog frolicking in the grass. The…

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Hall thruster in operation
Kenneth Ocklund

Far out space propulsion

Reading about the spectacular "rapid unscheduled disassembly" of the SpaceX Starship that launched the other day, made me think about some research I did for my upcoming book "Rock Hopper". The Starship is the most powerful rocket as of yet. It has (had?) 33 engines…

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A satellite in Earth orbit is destroyed
Kenneth Ocklund

The satellite war

The story in "Rock Hopper" takes place several years after an armed conflict that is referred to as "the satellite war". We don't get to know much about it, other that in the long forgotten spoils of war, our main character finds an unexpected opportunity.

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Spaceship junk yard in a winter landscape
Kenneth Ocklund

The real life space base

The main character in "Rock Hopper" lives in the north of Sweden near the town Jukkasjärvi, today mostly famous for the Icehotel that is built from scratch every winter using - you guessed it - ice. I've stayed at the hotel (well, a version of…

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Human in space suit walking on an asteroid
Kenneth Ocklund

How it started

It all started with a number: $10,000,000,000,000,000,000. Yeah, exactly what I thought. That's a lot - A LOT - of money. Some time ago I stumbled upon an article in the Observer about NASA finding an asteroid called "16 Psyche", mostly made of iron and…

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