The First Landing on Mars
One footprint. One heartbeat. One impossible chance.
The First Landing on Mars—Ares 3—was humanity's boldest step: a crewed touchdown in the rust-caked basin of Acidalia Planitia, a 31-sol mission of science and discovery. But when a catastrophic dust storm howled in, it became a crucible. The emergency evacuation saved four lives—and left astronaut Mark Watney stranded, presumed dead, alone on a planet that doesn't care.
Quick Facts
- Mission
- Ares 3
- Role
- First crewed landing on Mars
- Affiliation
- NASA
- First appears
- The Martian (novel/film)
- Status
- Completed (aborted due to storm)
- Crew
- Commander Lewis
- Watney
- Martinez
- Beck
- Johanssen
- Vogel
Lore & Background
The Ares 3 mission was part of NASA's Ares program, a series of crewed Mars expeditions that followed decades of robotic exploration. The landing site, Acidalia Planitia, was chosen for its relatively flat terrain and scientific interest, including ancient sedimentary deposits. The crew's primary objectives included geological sampling, atmospheric studies, and testing life-support systems for future missions. The mission's abrupt end due to a violent dust storm—with winds strong enough to damage equipment and threaten the ascent vehicle—led to the iconic moment when Commander Melissa Lewis ordered an abort, inadvertently leaving Watney behind in the chaos.
Reader's Guide
The First Landing on Mars—the Ares 3 mission—is the spark that ignites The Martian. It drops you into a world of breathtaking achievement and brutal reality: the triumph of a successful landing, the terror of a storm that rips through the Hab's solar panels, and the gut-wrenching choice to leave a man behind. This event sets the stage for Watney's survival saga, establishing the Martian environment as a character in its own right—unforgiving, beautiful, and lethal.
The landing site, Acidalia Planitia, becomes both a tomb and a beacon, a place where NASA's finest engineering meets raw human will. The mission's legacy is written in two ways: in the data it gathered—geology, atmosphere, life-support tests—and in the logs Watney leaves behind, a diary of desperation and ingenuity. It's a story of protocols broken and remade, of crew bonds strained across millions of miles, and of a global effort that turns a disaster into a race against time.
Did You Know?
- The Ares 3 landing site, Acidalia Planitia, is a real region on Mars, named after a fountain in Greek mythology.
- The dust storm that forced the abort was based on real Martian weather patterns, though actual storms are less violent than depicted.
- The mission's MAV (Mars Ascent Vehicle) was designed to return the crew to orbit, but Watney later repurposes its components for survival.
- Commander Lewis's decision to abort is a pivotal moment, as it saves the rest of the crew but leaves Watney stranded.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'The First Landing on Mars' in The Martian?
It refers to the Ares 3 mission, the first crewed touchdown ever made on the Martian surface. A six-person NASA team set down in Acidalia Planitia for a 31-sol scientific expedition.
Who were the astronauts on the Ares 3 crew?
The mission carried Commander Lewis, Mark Watney, Martinez, Beck, Johanssen, and Vogel. All six were NASA personnel tasked with gathering geological and biological data during the landing window.
Why was the Ares 3 mission cut short?
A violent dust storm struck the landing site, forcing NASA to order an immediate evacuation. The crew launched their lander to escape, but the gale's force ripped Watney from the vehicle and left him stranded on the surface.
Where on Mars did the Ares 3 crew land?
They set down in Acidalia Planitia, a basin chosen for its scientific value. The site supported the team's 31-sol window of research before the storm ended the mission.
More in Science & Lore
Elsewhere in The Martian
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