Hermes Resupply and Rescue

Lore & Background

The rescue culminated in a tense orbital rendezvous. Watney launched in the modified MAV, which had to shed weight to reach the required velocity. A last-minute malfunction nearly caused disaster, but he jury-rigged a solution. The Hermes crew performed a delicate intercept, using a spacewalk to grab Watney as he flew past. The success of the mission demonstrated the power of human collaboration and problem-solving under extreme pressure.

Reader's Guide

The rescue begins with Watney's survival being discovered. NASA plans a supply drop using a probe, but delays force a more ambitious plan. The Hermes, already returning to Earth, must be resupplied and sent back to Mars. A Chinese booster is used to launch the supply probe, which rendezvouses with Hermes.

Meanwhile, Watney prepares the MAV for launch, stripping it down to reduce weight—ripping out seats, panels, even the toilet, knowing he'll have to hold it for hours. The rescue involves a gravity assist from Earth to slingshot Hermes back to Mars. The MAV launches, but a pressure leak nearly kills Watney; he patches it with his own glove. He launches, but the trajectory is off.

The Hermes crew performs a risky intercept, with Lewis maneuvering the ship and Martinez executing a spacewalk to grab Watney as he flies past at a relative speed of nearly 10 meters per second. The rescue succeeds, and the crew returns to Earth, with Watney becoming a symbol of human resilience.

Did You Know?

• The rescue plan was inspired by a real NASA concept called the 'Mars Direct' mission architecture.
• The Chinese booster used in the rescue was based on the Long March rocket family.
• Watney's improvised MAV modification involved using his own feces as a radiation shield—a desperate, foul-smelling solution that actually worked.