Trisha Muro—It’s (Just) Rocket Science

Advance copy: Backstories on books by NASW members

Cover of the book It — It's (Just) Rocket Science

IT’S (JUST) ROCKET SCIENCE
Trisha Muro
Johns Hopkins University Press, 5/12/2026
Price of Hardcover: $32.95
Price of ebook: $32.95
ISBN: 978-1421454269

Muro reports:

When I taught high school physics, I loved the challenge of finding creative, interest-grabbing ways of explaining tricky concepts to my students. While It’s (Just) Rocket Science is not a textbook, it is how I’ve chosen to continue that calling. I described my intended audience as “anyone who loves going to science museums, or who wakes up early to watch a rocket launch.” I wanted to take the excitement of spaceflight and use that feeling of awe as a catapult to help explain tricky physics.

Each chapter tackles one concept in physics, and is illustrated by one or two spaceflight missions. They weave together personal narrative and clear explanation of the concept at hand, coupled with interviews from scientists or engineers who work on the relevant mission. Some are past missions, some are present-day, and some are still in various stages of design for the future. Taken together, sixteen chapters cover topics in gravitation, motion and forces, energy and momentum, waves and light, and future frontiers.

In some cases, I knew who I hoped to interview; in others, I relied upon the outreach staff at NASA to connect me with the right person.

I made a conscious decision to include — yes, include! — a few key math equations throughout the narrative, and I’m so grateful to the anonymous peer reviewer who encouraged my publisher to keep those equations in the main text (rather than siphoning them off into an appendix). My goal was to help the reader truly begin to understand how math and science are so integral to one another.

In terms of publishing, I sent my book proposal to several academic presses and to a few agents. None of the agents replied, I made it to the interview and conversation round with two publishers. Johns Hopkins Press (I am an alum of the university) was the best fit. I am donating 100% of my proceeds to the Space Camp Scholarship Fund.

There’s so much I wish I’d known! But my best advice is to partner with people you trust to give honest, hard feedback!

Contact info:

Trisha Muro: trishmuro@gmail.com
Author’s website: www.trishamuro.com
Book: It's (Just) Rocket Science
Publicist: Anthony Blake, ablake20@jh.edu

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Advance Copy

The path from idea to book may take myriad routes. The Advance Copy column, started in 2000 by NASW volunteer book editor Lynne Lamberg, features NASW authors telling the stories behind their books. Authors are asked to report how they got their idea, honed it into a proposal, found an agent and a publisher, funded and conducted their research, and organized their writing process. They also are asked to share what they wish they’d known when they started or would do differently next time, and what advice they can offer aspiring authors. Lamberg edits the authors’ answers to produce the Advance Copy reports.

October 2026 update: Lamberg now serves as NASW’s book editor emerita. A team of volunteer interim editors currently produces Advance Copy reports. The editor’s name appears at the end of each report.

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Publication of NASW author reports in Advance Copy does not constitute NASW's endorsement of any publication or the ideas, values, or material contained within or espoused by authors or their books. We hope this column stimulates productive discussions on important topics now and in the future as both science and societies progress. We welcome your discussion in the comments section below.