Contents
Chapter 25
Overview
Watney reaches the Schiaparelli MAV and, under NASA’s plan, performs drastic mass-reduction: stripping life support, controls, windows, and panels, and adding fuel by electrolyzing water and urine. Hermes trains for a remote ascent and tethered retrieval. As Sol 549 approaches, all parties finalize preparations for a risky, no-abort launch and intercept.
Summary
Mark Watney arrives at the Schiaparelli MAV, booting it and feeding in rover gases to establish life support. NASA confirms the Sol 549 Hermes flyby and warns of required mass cuts. Bruce Ng briefs Venkat Kapoor on an extreme plan: add fuel by electrolyzing Watney’s water and urine for hydrogen, then remove over 5,000 kilograms from the MAV.
The plan eliminates sample payload, extra seats, nonessentials, and all onboard life support, with Major Rick Martinez piloting remotely from Hermes. To save more mass, they cut backup systems, a Stage One engine, and even remove the nose airlock, windows, and hull panels, to be covered only by Hab canvas. Despite heightened risk, it’s the only option.
Watney balks but proceeds, conducting system checks, then dismantling seats, controls, backups, and panels, repeatedly EVA-dumping scrap. He follows NASA’s step-by-step procedures and begins fuel augmentation by electrolyzing water and urine in the depressurized trailer, separating hydrogen for transfer to the MAV’s tanks and running the fuel plant.
Aboard Hermes, Martinez drills remote launches against engineered failures, while Commander Lewis coordinates roles: Martinez flies ascent, Johanssen sysops, Beck performs a tethered MMU retrieval with Vogel as backup, aiming for tight intercept margins. Course and systems remain nominal as they suspend other work and prepare for the operation.
Mission Control can only monitor due to the light-time delay. Near real-time comms open between Watney and Johanssen as Hermes nears. By Sol 543, Watney completes modifications; by Sol 549, suited in the gutted MAV covered with canvas, he reflects on the risks and finality. With no abort options, he awaits the launch that will decide his fate.
Who Appears
- Mark WatneyAstronaut at the MAV; powers it, strips mass-critical systems, manufactures fuel from water and urine, and prepares for the risky Sol 549 launch.
- Bruce NgJPL director who presents the extreme mass-reduction and added-fuel plan for the MAV to meet Hermes intercept.
- Venkat KapoorNASA’s Mars mission director; reviews and accepts the high-risk MAV modification plan.
- Rick MartinezHermes pilot; trains intensively to remotely launch and fly the stripped MAV to orbit.
- Melissa LewisHermes commander; coordinates crew roles, enforces safety limits, and oversees final intercept preparations.
- Beth JohanssenHermes systems operator; runs ascent simulations, establishes near real-time comms, and will manage systems during launch.
- Chris BeckHermes EVA specialist and doctor; prepares a long tether and MMU to physically retrieve Watney after intercept.
- Alex VogelHermes engineer; monitors reactor and trajectory, assists with tether operations as Beck’s backup.
- Mitch HendersonFlight director; oversees final checks at Mission Control, acknowledging they can only observe during launch.
- Annie MontroseNASA PR chief; observes Mission Control’s tension as global media await the outcome.
- Brendan HutchFlight director taking over the console for final prelaunch shift as countdown proceeds.