Former astronaut and NASA associate administrator for education Leland Melvin reads to students in Washington, D.C., in February.
Photo: Carla Cioffi/NASA

Many a science nerd has been born while reading science-fiction novels. As a way to hook those kids early, NASA has partnered with a book publisher to develop sci-fi–themed books.

The line of books, which the space agency is calling “NASA Inspired Works of Fiction,” will be created with Tor-Forge Books. Through the partnership, NASA will pair its space geeks with the publisher’s writers to create books intended to spark interest in engineering, mathematics, technology and science.

“This agreement will benefit the public, as we look for innovative ways to communicate our past and current achievements, while focusing on the needs of the future,” Nona Cheeks, the director of Innovative Partnerships at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, said in a statement.

NASA isn’t the only organization looking to tap writers to create inspiring prose. Intel recently asked writers Scarlett Thomas, Douglas Rushkoff, Ray Hammond and Markus Heitz to write short stories about what the future would look like. Those stories are available for free download on Intel’s website.

Perhaps one day in the near future, these stories will get optioned for movies and Hollywood can get yet another chance to shoot the moon.

Photo: nasa hq photo/Flickr