Science In and Beyond the Lab
Science is not just about equations and simulations—it’s also about inspiring the next generation. That’s why the Aircraft Operations Lab coordinator Manuel Soler has combined his passion for aerospace science, and his passion for writing, to take it one step further by writing a children’s book.
Commander Pablo and his quirky crew—Hipo, Tritops, and Calameona—decide to build their own rocket and orbit Planet Earth to tackle a cosmic challenge: cleaning up the floating space junk! Together, they form La Astropatrulla Basurilla (The Junk Astropatrol), and through funny misunderstandings and fascinating space facts, they prove that imagination, teamwork, and ingenuity can take us far.
With a humorous and educational tone, this story aims to spark a passion for science in young readers while raising awareness about a real and growing problem: the accumulation of debris in Earth’s orbit.
Get ready to blast off and join the most eco-friendly (and fun) mission in the cosmos!
Writing and illustrating “La Astropatrulla Basurilla” has been an extremely exhausting work that is offered in free access to the community in its digital versions. If you would like to collaborate with the author and illustrator, you can purchase printed copies at a reduced cost through Amazon (available at Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.es, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, etc.).
Additionally, one-third of the proceeds from physical book sales will be donated to support STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) activities in primary and preschool education.
Join us in bringing science, fun, and awareness to young explorers—both in the classroom and beyond!
License
La Astropatrulla Basurilla
Author: Manuel Soler Arnedo
Illustrations: Mamen Moreu
© 2025 of the text: Manuel Soler Arnedo
© 2025 of the illustrations: Mamen Moreu
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, recorded or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, etc.) without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. The pdf and epub versions are provided free of charge and open access.
ISBN (Printed version): 9798304796811
The ‘Astropatrulla’
The Patch
The Rocket
About the Author
Manuel Soler was born in Alcañiz in 1982. He is a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, where he conducts extensive research and outreach activities related to aviation and space. La Astropatrulla Basurilla incorporates elements from activities he organizes during Science Week and the European Researchers’ Night, such as the construction and launch of water rockets. The story also addresses key research topics, including space debris removal.
Beyond being a professor, researcher, and science communicator, Manuel is also a writer. He has published several short stories in anthologies, digital platforms such as Zenda, and podcasts like Noviembre Nocturno. In 2022, he published his first children’s book, La que Luce (www.laqueluce.com / @laqueluce), with Peonza Publishing.
About the Illustrator
Mamen Moreu was born in Huesca in 1985. A comic artist and cartoonist, her style is characterized by its humor, vibrant colors, and strong social commentary. She first gained recognition in 2009 with her satirical strips in El Jueves, where the character Marcela made her debut. Her collaboration with the magazine continued intermittently until 2016, after which she published the weekly series Dolores y Lolo until 2023.
Mamen has published three Dolores y Lolo collections with Astiberri Publishing: Dolores y Lolo, Dolores y Lolo 2: ¡Viva la Revolución! (co-written with Iván Batty), and Dolores y Lolo 3: ¡La vida patas arriba!. In 2014, she published her first graphic novel, Resaca, which was nominated for Best New Author at the Barcelona Comic Fair 2015. Her second book, Desastre (2018), further solidified her reputation.
She has contributed to numerous collective comic anthologies and publications, including Institutos (Astiberri, 2014), Enjambre (Norma, 2014), Teresa Perales Cómics (Fundación Telefónica, 2016), and El futuro es cómic (Fnac, 2018). In 2019, she won the Splash de Sagunto Festival’s Graphic Humor Award, and in 2020, she received the Best Aragonese Illustrator Award for Dolores y Lolo ¡Viva la Revolución!.
Mamen also contributes illustrations to Diario El Salto, Pikara Magazine, and Xabiroi, among others. In addition to her work as a comic writer and illustrator, she designs book covers, posters, and corporate artwork and conducts comic workshops for children, teenagers, and adults.