The Journey of Mark Watney: From NASA's Investigation to His Survival

When the movie The Martian trimmed great jokes and scientific descriptions to streamline the narrative, it brought light to a complex storyline involving prominent characters like Andy Weir's main protagonist, Mark Watney. This article delves deeper into the less publicized elements, such as the yawning political landscape surrounding Mark's survival and the rigorous NASA investigation that followed his disappearance during the Ares 3 mission.

Background of the Mission and Mark's Distress Signal

The Ares 3 mission, depicted in the movie and Andy Weir's book, was a one-of-a-kind expedition designed to explore the Red Planet. However, the complexity of the mission was tested dramatically when an unforeseen dust storm struck Mars, causing a series of unfortunate events. According to the story, a dust storm on Mars, which can whipped up to 800 mph, made the Hermes spacecraft in orbit and the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) on the Martian surface almost invisible to one another due to the acrid dust that filled the atmosphere. An on-board livestream from the MAV began to show zero life signs from Watney, leading to a quick and hasty decision by Commander Lewis to abort the MAV and deploy the descent pod, effectively cutting short the mission.

Watney, who was presumed dead, sent numerous distress messages back to NASA using the Morse code machine he had salvaged from the habitat's console. These messages did not merely report an emergency situation. Notably, he sent a candid, humorous, and sometimes sarcastic message to NASA, stating that he would not cooperate with any attempt to pin the blame on his crewmates, reflecting both his sharp wit and the stress he was under.

NASA's Delayed Investigation and Political Challenges

The death of Mark Watney was initially reported by NASA as both clear-cut and final, as his vital readings showed as zeroes instead of 'no signal.' Despite this, there were underlying complications and a series of events that pushed back the momentous decision to launch the Hermes. NASA was initially reconsidering the mission due to the death of their first-ever astronaut to die on Mars. Worries over a 'sensational' image of Watney's body made from space made them hesitate. Furthermore, the significant loss also led to the potential cancellation of future Mars missions for reminding people of the dangers involved in space travel.

Despite these obstacles, NASA was eventually compelled to investigate the situation further. The primary hurdle was the storm on Mars, which hindered the use of satellites for detection, leading NASA to wait for a break in the weather before photographing the Ares 3 site. Once the data was analyzed and the Ares 3 site was found to be utilized, NASA faced a daunting challenge. Not only did they need to determine if the MAV's communication system was functional, but they also needed to figure out how to get Watney to the Ares 4 MAV and how to maintain his survival during the journey and refueling process of the MAV. The MAV, landed by the previous mission, could generate fuel from the atmosphere and stored hydrogen.

The Future of Mars Missions and Watney's Role

If the Hermes had remained in orbit, it could have significantly alleviated the need for Watney to strip down the MAV for rendezvous purposes, as the Hermes would have been traveling slower relative to the surface. However, the extended mission would have required Watney to set up sufficient provisions at the Ares 3 site, and NASA to transport extra supplies to the Hermes crew for the return journey. Maintaining continuous communication with Watney and informing him about his status would have been a more straightforward process had the Hermes been in orbit.

Reflecting on the Ares 3 mission, NASA grappled with the complexities of space travel, human factors, and the doubting nature of survival. Watney's journey from a presumed dead astronaut to a survivor and the subsequent NASA investigation are a testament to the resilience of both the human spirit and the meticulous planning and execution required in space missions. These complexities underscore the importance of contingency planning and the balance between human emotions and scientific truth.