Alex Vogel

Lore & Background

Alex Vogel is the Ares 3 astrochemist, a specialist in the chemistry of space environments. He is part of the five-person crew of the Hermes spacecraft that, after learning of Watney's survival, decides to risk the extended mission to rescue him. Vogel's expertise would have been critical to the mission's scientific objectives, though the source does not detail his specific actions during the rescue. He is one of the crew members who, along with Commander Melissa Lewis, pilot Rick Martinez, computer specialist Beth Johanssen, and flight surgeon Dr. Chris Beck, approves the plan to return to Mars. The source notes that all five of Watney's crewmates approved the plan, and once they began the maneuver, having disabled the remote overrides, NASA had no choice but to support them.

In Their Own Story

Alex Vogel is the Ares 3 astrochemist. He is part of the crew that, after being informed of Mark Watney's survival by flight director Mitch Henderson, decides to risk everything to save him. The source states: 'All five of Watney's crewmates approve the plan. Once they begin the maneuver, having disabled the remote overrides, NASA has no choice but to support them.' Vogel's role in the rescue is not detailed further in the source, but he is one of the key crew members who make the decision to turn the Hermes around. Later, during the rendezvous, Lewis improvises a plan to intercept the MAV by firing Hermes' attitude thrusters and then blowing a hole in the front airlock with an improvised sugar-and-liquid-oxygen bomb, using the thrust from the escaping air to reduce speed. Beck, the Hermes' EVA specialist, uses a Manned Maneuvering Unit on a tether to reach Watney and bring him back to Hermes.

Reader's Guide

Alex Vogel is the Ares 3 astrochemist. He is a member of the crew of the Hermes spacecraft. When the crew learns that Mark Watney is alive, they all approve the 'Rich Purnell Maneuver' — a slingshot trajectory around Earth for a gravity assist that would get Hermes back to Mars on a much-extended mission to save Watney. The source does not provide further details about Vogel's specific actions or personality beyond his role as astrochemist and his participation in the rescue plan. He is one of the five crewmates who, having disabled the remote overrides, begin the maneuver, forcing NASA to support them.

Did You Know?

• Alex Vogel is the Ares 3 astrochemist, one of the five crewmates of Mark Watney on the Ares 3 mission.
• Vogel and his crewmates approved the 'Rich Purnell Maneuver' to return to Mars and rescue Watney.
• The crew disabled the remote overrides on Hermes to begin the maneuver, leaving NASA no choice but to support them.
• During the rescue, Commander Lewis improvised a plan using Hermes' attitude thrusters and a sugar-and-liquid-oxygen bomb to slow the ship for Watney's retrieval.