The Fated Sky, by Mary Robinette Kowal

This sequel to The Calculating Stars sees the Lady Astronaut, Dr Elma York, on ‘bus driving’ duty as a pilot on the moon, serving the small lunar colony and its space station. She spends three month rotations there, which puts a strain on her marriage. This has her considering retirement as she and Nathaniel contemplate having children, so there is no way she will join the first manned mission to Mars. That is, until an increasingly militant Earth First movement requires the Lady Astronaut back on the PR circuit and joining the 3-year pioneering mission. Racial and other tension amongst the crew mirrors that of the society their expedition aims to save, with an interesting perspective on the 60s. Looming natural disaster is driving the need for Mars colonisation, but inevitably some will be left behind. Who is that likely to be? The tone of these novels cleverly echoes those of leading post-war sci fi authors, such Clarke and Asimov, who could imagine amazing technological leaps forward, but no social progress. But here John and Mary don’t stick to their assigned roles of hero and helpmate; technology and urgent need helping to drive change.