What Does Hermes Mean in the Martian?

If you’re a fan of science fiction, you might have watched the movie ‘The Martian’. The film tells the story of an astronaut named Mark Watney, who is stranded on Mars after his team thinks he died during a storm and leaves him behind. In the movie, the word ‘Hermes’ is mentioned frequently, but what does it mean?

The Hermes Mission

‘Hermes’ is actually the name of the spacecraft that brought Mark and his team to Mars. The Hermes mission was a NASA project that aimed to send humans to Mars for the first time. It was a massive undertaking that involved years of planning and development.

The spacecraft was designed to carry six crew members and all of their necessary equipment for a round trip journey to Mars. It was equipped with advanced life support systems, radiation shielding, and other technologies needed for long-duration spaceflight.

The Hermes Crew

Mark Watney was one of six crew members aboard the Hermes spacecraft. The others included Commander Lewis, Martinez, Beck, Vogel, and Johanssen. Each member had their own unique skills and specialties that were necessary for the success of the mission.

Commander Lewis was in charge of leading the mission and making critical decisions. Martinez was responsible for piloting the spacecraft and ensuring it stayed on course.

Beck was a doctor who could provide medical care if anyone got sick or injured. Vogel was an engineer who could fix any technical problems that arose during the journey. Johanssen was a computer specialist who could keep all of the ship’s systems running smoothly.

The Importance of Hermes

The success or failure of the Hermes mission would have significant implications for future space exploration endeavors. If they succeeded in landing on Mars and returning safely to Earth, it would prove that humans can survive in deep space for extended periods.

It would also pave the way for future missions to Mars and other planets in our solar system. Scientists could learn more about the Red Planet and potentially discover signs of life or evidence of past life.

In conclusion, ‘Hermes’ is the name of the spacecraft that brought Mark Watney and his team to Mars in the movie ‘The Martian’. It was a critical component of the Hermes mission, which aimed to send humans to Mars for the first time. The success of this mission would have far-reaching implications for future space exploration endeavors.