The Ares 3 Mission

Lore & Background

The Ares 3 mission launched from Earth with a crew of six highly trained astronauts, each selected for their expertise in fields ranging from botany to engineering. Their primary objective was to conduct surface research on Mars, including geological surveys and experiments, over a planned stay of roughly 30 sols. The mission utilized the Hermes spacecraft for interplanetary travel and a Mars Descent Vehicle (MDV) for landing on the surface, with the MAV (Mars Ascent Vehicle) designated for the return to orbit. The mission's legacy was forever altered on Sol 6 when an intense dust storm struck the landing site, forcing an emergency evacuation. During the chaotic departure, astronaut Mark Watney was struck by debris and presumed dead, leading the crew to launch without him. This decision set off a chain of events that became a global sensation, as Watney survived against all odds, using his ingenuity to grow food, jury-rig communications with a long-dead rover, and traverse hundreds of kilometers across hostile terrain—all while NASA and the international community scrambled to mount a rescue under the world's anxious gaze. The Ares 3 mission ultimately became a testament to human resilience and collaboration, with Watney's survival and eventual rescue by his crewmates aboard the Hermes marking one of the greatest achievements in space exploration history. The mission's data and Watney's improvised solutions also provided invaluable insights for future Martian expeditions, proving that duct tape, botany, and sheer stubbornness can move mountains—or at least, a planet.

In Their Own Story

Commander Lewis shouted over the comm, 'Everyone to the MAV, now!' Watney felt the world tilt as a piece of debris slammed into his suit, and then—silence. When he woke, the dust had settled, and the Hab's airlock was sealed. He checked his bio-monitor: heart rate 120, oxygen 85%. 'Well,' he muttered, 'I'm not dead yet.' Outside, the empty Martian plains stretched to the horizon, and the MAV was a distant speck, already climbing toward orbit. He was alone.

Reader's Guide

The Ares 3 Mission is the central event of The Martian story, representing both a catastrophic failure and an extraordinary triumph of human spirit. It was part of NASA's Ares program, which aimed to send multiple crews to Mars for extended surface missions. The crew of six—commanded by Melissa Lewis—included specialists like Mark Watney (botanist/engineer), Rick Martinez (pilot), Beth Johanssen (computer specialist), Chris Beck (medical officer), and Alex Vogel (chemist). The mission turned on Sol 6 when a severe dust storm forced an emergency evacuation. Watney was struck by debris and left behind, presumed dead. His survival and subsequent efforts to communicate with Earth, grow food, and reach the Ares 4 MAV site became the focus of a global rescue operation involving NASA, JPL, and the Chinese space agency—a desperate, round-the-clock race against time, starvation, and the unforgiving Martian cold.

Did You Know?

• The Ares 3 mission's Hab was designed to be a self-contained habitat, but Watney's modifications to grow potatoes inside it were completely unplanned.
• The dust storm that stranded Watney was a genuinely life-threatening event, with winds and debris making the evacuation the only viable option under the circumstances.
• Watney's improvised communication method using the Pathfinder rover was based on real NASA technology, though the rover had been silent for years.
• The Ares 3 crew's return to Earth was celebrated as a global triumph, with Watney's survival story inspiring millions.