![]() ![]() You'd be amazed at how fast you can get going with a tiny acceleration over a long time. The thing is, it doesn't take much reactant mass, so a little argon (and a nuclear reactor to power things) let us accelerate constantly the whole way there. They throw argon out the back of the ship really fast to get a tiny amount of acceleration. Gone are the days of heavy chemical fuel burns and trans-Mars injection orbits. Once everything was a go, we set out for Mars. Once we got to Hermes, four additional unmanned missions brought us fuel and supplies while we prepared for our trip. ![]() It's really big and cost a lot so NASA built only one. All the Ares missions use Hermes to get to and from Mars. We got to Earth orbit the normal way, through an ordinary ship to Hermes. I guess I should explain how Mars missions work, for any layman who may be reading this. I don't blame you, and I'm glad you survived. In your position I would have done the same thing. Guys, if you're reading this: It wasn't your fault. I presume they got back to Earth all right. I wonder if this log will be recovered before the rest of the crew die of old age. I would only be "in command" of the mission if I were the only remaining person. Actually, I was the very lowest ranked member of the crew. They got a firm handshake and a hot cup of coffee when they got home.Īres 3. They got the parades and fame and love of the world.Īres 2 did the same thing, in a different location on Mars. The Ares 1 crew did their thing and came back heroes. Mankind reaching out to Mars to send people to another planet for the very first time and expand the horizons of humanity blah, blah, blah. Just not on Sol 6 when everyone thinks I did. Maybe there'll be a day of national mourning for me, and my Wikipedia page will say, "Mark Watney is the only human being to have died on Mars."Īnd it'll be right, probably. Certainly the rest of the crew thought I did, and I can't blame them. Maybe a hundred years from now.įor the record. Six days into what should be the greatest two months of my life, and it's turned into a nightmare. ![]()
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