Table of Contents
Why did the IRIS launch fail?
In the original book by Andy Weir the launch is described in detail. To summarise the story, there was a lack of testing in the development of Iris. The pad crew had to skip the inspection stage. If they had done an inspection they would have noticed a minor defect in a payload securing bolt as exchanged it.
What was the problem with getting Watney’s spacecraft from Mars to the Hermes?
The problem the characters face is that Hermes used a gravitational slingshot around Earth to get back to Mars in time to save Watney’s life; and it is traveling too fast to enter Mars’s orbit.
What is Iris the Martian?
By Andy Weir There’s a problem with the water reclaimer, but Mark is convinced that he can fix it. Even so, this disaster throws a huge wrench into the plans. The only way that NASA can send him supplies in time is by sending a probe (dubbed “Iris”) within the next forty days, which is all but impossible.
Why does Commander Lewis ask Vogel to make a bomb in the Martian?
On Hermes, Lewis asks Vogel, the resident chemist, to make a bomb that will blow the inner airlock door. They’ll open the outer door first so that it can later be closed to restore the ship’s aerodynamic shape.
Does Mars have gas?
Like Earth, Mars has an atmosphere and weather, but both differ greatly from what we experience on Earth. Mars’ atmosphere however is 95\% carbon dioxide, 3\% nitrogen, 1.6\% argon, and it has traces of oxygen, carbon monoxide, water, methane, and other gases, along with a lot of dust.
Why does the rocket carrying the resupply food fail?
One of the bolts in the rocket was defective, and wasn’t caught because they skipped the inspection. When it failed, it increased the force on the other bolts, causing them to fail, one after another, until the whole rocket was torn apart.
What event causes the astronauts to abort the mission?
During their mission in Mars, a team of astronauts is hit by an unpredicted storm and have to abort their mission and leave for Earth. During the evacuation one of the crew members, Mark Watney, is hit by a projectile due to the storm and is thrown away.
Does China have a secret rocket that will take it to Mars?
Luckily, it turns out that China has a top secret rocket that’s already cleared for launch that’s fast enough to make it to Mars in time. The only reason why China didn’t disclose this information earlier is because the rocket is top secret. Apparently, they suddenly stopped caring about that because NASA gets the rocket.
What are the risks involved in the Martian invasion?
There are risks involved, but not as many as the plan they eventually end up going with. The actual plan involves having Watney launch himself into Mars orbit and having the Hermes swing by and catch him. They only have one shot, and if they screw up, Watney is stranded in outer space. Also, the crew of the Hermes is risking their lives.
What exactly is the bomb in the Martian?
The bomb is Oxyliquit, a combonation of liquid oxygen and a loose fuel. In The Martian, they used sugar as the fuel. My understanding of the science is that the sugar mixes with the liquid oxygen and allows a combustion to be quick due to the wide and even mixture of oxygen and fuel.
What will happen to Watney on Mars?
When NASA attempts to launch a supply satellite towards Mars, it explodes in Earth’s atmosphere, seemingly dooming Watney. By the time they can prep and launch another vehicle, Watney’s food will have long run out.