Could We Build the Hermes From the Martian?

If you are a fan of science fiction, you must have heard about The Martian, a movie that tells the story of an astronaut who gets stranded on Mars and has to find a way to survive until he is rescued. One of the most impressive aspects of this movie was the spacecraft that brought the astronauts to Mars, called Hermes.

But could we really build such a spacecraft from materials found on Mars Let’s explore this idea further.

The Challenges

Building a spacecraft from scratch is no easy feat, but building one using only materials found on another planet presents its own unique challenges. For starters, Mars has a different atmosphere than Earth, which means any materials we would use for construction would have to be adapted to withstand the harsh conditions. Additionally, Mars has lower gravity than Earth, which affects how objects are built and how they function in space.

The Materials

Assuming we could find enough raw materials on Mars to build the Hermes spacecraft, what would those materials be One possibility is using Martian soil or regolith as a base material for construction.

The soil could be heated and compressed into bricks or used as a binding agent for other materials. Other possible resources include iron and aluminum deposits found on the planet’s surface.

  • Regolith – Martian soil
  • Iron deposits
  • Aluminum deposits

The Design

The design of the Hermes spacecraft in The Martian was heavily influenced by NASA’s real-life Orion spacecraft project. However, any craft built on Mars would need to be designed specifically with Martian conditions in mind. This means taking into account lower gravity, different atmospheric conditions and radiation exposure.

The Benefits

Building a spacecraft entirely from materials found on another planet may seem like an impossible task, but there are some potential benefits to pursuing this idea. One of the biggest advantages is that it could significantly reduce the cost of space exploration. Instead of having to launch all materials from Earth, we could simply use what’s already available on Mars.

Conclusion

While building a spacecraft like Hermes entirely from Martian resources may be a long way off, it’s an intriguing idea that could have significant benefits for space exploration and colonization. With continued advancements in technology and a greater understanding of Martian resources, this dream could one day become a reality. In the meantime, we can continue to be inspired by science fiction and work towards making space travel more accessible for everyone.