The Hermes spacecraft, featured in the hit movie “The Martian,” was sent on a mission to Mars, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it was forced to abort and return back to Earth. The question remains, how long was the Hermes in space?
Firstly, let’s take a look at the Hermes mission. The spacecraft was designed to carry six astronauts and travel from Earth to Mars in 124 days. However, during the mission, a severe dust storm hit Mars, and the crew had to abort and leave Mark Watney (Matt Damon) behind on the planet.
After leaving Mars, the crew of the Hermes had to make a risky maneuver known as a “slingshot” around Earth. This involved using Earth’s gravity to gain enough speed to make it back home safely. From there, it took approximately 124 days for the Hermes to return back to Earth.
In total, the Hermes spent approximately 506 days in space. This includes the time it took for the spacecraft to travel from Earth to Mars and back again.
It’s worth noting that this is a fictional scenario created for entertainment purposes. In reality, sending humans on a mission like this would require years of preparation and training. NASA has plans for future missions to Mars but has not yet sent humans there.
To sum it up, the Hermes spent around 506 days in space during its fictional mission from Earth to Mars and back again. It’s fascinating how much planning goes into such missions and how much risk is involved for those who undertake them.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, while we may not be able to experience space travel like Mark Watney or other fictional characters anytime soon, we can still appreciate their journeys and learn from them. The story of the Hermes serves as a reminder of just how challenging space exploration can be and just how much we have yet to discover beyond our own planet.
- Key Takeaways:
- The Hermes spacecraft spent approximately 506 days in space during its fictional mission from Earth to Mars and back again.
- A severe dust storm on Mars forced the crew of the Hermes to abort their mission and leave Mark Watney behind on the planet.
- The crew of the Hermes had to use a risky “slingshot” maneuver around Earth to gain enough speed to return home safely.
References:
- “The Martian” movie directed by Ridley Scott (2015).
- NASA’s plans for future missions to Mars: https://www.html