Hermes Crew

Lore & Background

The Hermes Crew is the beating heart of the Ares III mission, a NASA endeavor to explore the Acidalia Planitia region of Mars. The crew consists of Commander Melissa Lewis, a United States Navy Submarine Warfare officer, oceanographer, and geologist; Mark Watney, an astrobotanist and mechanical engineer; Rick Martinez, the Ares 3 pilot; Beth Johanssen, the Ares 3 computer specialist; Dr. Chris Beck, the Ares 3 flight surgeon and EVA specialist; and Alex Vogel, the Ares 3 astrochemist. They are selected not just for their complementary skills but for their ability to function as a single organism under extreme pressure, living and working together in the confined, humming metal tube of the Hermes for months during the journey to and from Mars.

In Their Own Story

The crew's bond is forged in the crucible of Mars itself. After only six sols, a wind storm threatens to topple their Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV). During the evacuation, an antenna tears loose and impales astronaut Mark Watney, also disabling his spacesuit radio and life signs monitoring system. He is flung out of sight by the wind and presumed dead. As the MAV teeters dangerously, mission commander Melissa Lewis has no choice but to take off without completing the search for Watney. The Hermes Crew then begins the long, hollow journey back to Earth, haunted by the ghost of their missing crewmate, until NASA discovers that Watney is alive when satellite images of the landing site show evidence of his activities. Mitch Henderson, the Ares 3 flight director, convinces NASA Administrator Teddy Sanders to allow him to inform the Ares 3 crew of Watney's survival; they are thrilled, except for Lewis, who is guilt‑stricken at leaving him behind. This sets the stage for an unprecedented rescue mission that tests their loyalty, ingenuity, and humanity, culminating in a daring gamble that turns their ship into a lifeboat across the solar system.

Reader's Guide

The Hermes Crew is the central group of the Ares III mission, comprising six astronauts with distinct roles: Commander Melissa Lewis leads with a steady hand and a geologist's eye for detail; Mark Watney is the astrobotanist and mechanical engineer, a master of improvisation; Rick Martinez pilots the spacecraft with a pilot's cool precision; Beth Johanssen manages the computers, her fingers dancing across keyboards to keep the ship alive; Dr. Chris Beck serves as the flight surgeon and EVA specialist, stitching up bodies and performing spacewalks; and Alex Vogel handles chemistry as an astrochemist. Their primary goal is to conduct scientific research on Mars and return safely to Earth, but this is upended when Watney is stranded. The crew's role shifts to supporting a rescue, coordinating with NASA from space, and ultimately deciding to risk their own lives by turning the Hermes around to save Watney. They represent the best of human cooperation and determination in the face of overwhelming odds—a group of brilliant people who refuse to give up on each other.

Did You Know?

• Commander Melissa Lewis is a United States Navy Submarine Warfare officer, oceanographer, and geologist.
• Mark Watney is an astrobotanist and mechanical engineer, and the only crew member stranded on Mars.
• Dr. Chris Beck is the Ares 3 flight surgeon and EVA specialist, and he uses a Manned Maneuvering Unit on a tether to rescue Watney.
• The crew learns of Watney's survival when Mitch Henderson, the Ares 3 flight director, convinces NASA Administrator Teddy Sanders to allow him to inform them.
• All five of Watney's crewmates approve the 'Rich Purnell Maneuver' to rescue him, after Henderson secretly emails the details to Hermes.