A character while discussing the slingshot proposal says the ships would be flying at each other at 32,000 kilometers per hour (KMH). In Negative Return (2020), the speed of Atlas was described as being 17,500 miles per hour (MPH) which equates to 28,163 KMH without the mentioned slingshot acceleration. The only way the 32,000 KMH statement would hold true is if the freighter was doing about 2,500 MPH (4,000 KPH). That was not the case since it was stated the replacement freighter (which had been previously launched according to the map a character drew) would take 5 months to get to Mars. At 2,500 MPH, the trip to Mars from the moon would take 22 months. If the replacement freighter took 5 months to get to Mars from the moon, it's average speed would be about 11,000 MPH.
This was likely actually a character error, as the character should have said 32,000 MPH- which would still be inaccurate but far closer to what had been previously stated.
This was likely actually a character error, as the character should have said 32,000 MPH- which would still be inaccurate but far closer to what had been previously stated.
The crew devise a plan to listen to a Mars rover, saying they will listen on UHF. While they have an antenna with the correct elements for at least part of the UHF range, they clearly are tuning into a frequency in the VHF range.
The crew uses the InSight rover's seismometer to detect the sonic boom that marks Pegasus entering the atmosphere. If they had continued to listen, they could have learned more about the landing. A successful touchdown would have created a single loud noise, while a crash would have yielded multiple loud noises (due to wreckage/debris.)
Atlas is said to be 3 weeks away from Mars, which at it's stated speed of 17,500 MPH would place it 8.8 million miles away. At the same time, the second freighter is said to be 5 months away. It is said the slingshot maneuver (which would accelerate Atlas beyond 17,500 MPH) would reduce the time for the two to meet to under 10 weeks.
While the speed of the freighter is not disclosed, it was stated it would take less than a year to go from the moon to Mars. Given the stated data, it's likely the freighter would take 8 months to get to Mars (the 8 months stated for Atlas was an error given its speed). Since Mars is 39.7 million miles from the moon, the freighter would travel at about 6,900 MPH for an 8 month trip. At this speed at 5 months out, the freighter would be 24.8 million miles from Mars.
Accordingly, after using 3 of the 10 weeks just to get to Mars, Atlas would have to accelerate to a speed of 21,000 MPH to meet up with the freighter in under 10 weeks.
While the speed of the freighter is not disclosed, it was stated it would take less than a year to go from the moon to Mars. Given the stated data, it's likely the freighter would take 8 months to get to Mars (the 8 months stated for Atlas was an error given its speed). Since Mars is 39.7 million miles from the moon, the freighter would travel at about 6,900 MPH for an 8 month trip. At this speed at 5 months out, the freighter would be 24.8 million miles from Mars.
Accordingly, after using 3 of the 10 weeks just to get to Mars, Atlas would have to accelerate to a speed of 21,000 MPH to meet up with the freighter in under 10 weeks.
A Russian Mars probe would not be set to the same time as Houston Texas, which is 8 hours behind Moscow.
When a character is speaking into her tablet to compose a message to her parents, she begins by addressing her father as "Dear father". After the first sentence, she adds a comment, and then deletes only the comment. She then again addresses her father, so her message would say "Dear father" twice.
While discussing how the ships could dock, the option of Atlas simply turning around to intercept the second freighter was never mentioned. Instead, the far more time consuming method of the slingshot was the only option discussed.
Given the various stated data, it can be deduced the freighter averages about 6,900 MPH and at 5 months away from Mars it was about 24.8 million miles away. Atlas traveling at 17,500 MPH was said to be 3 weeks away from Mars, or about 8.8 million miles. This places Atlas about 16 million miles ahead of the freighter.
In 10 weeks, the freighter would travel 11.5 million miles, while the faster Atlas would travel over 29 million miles.
Using the turn around option would allow the two to dock in about 4 weeks.
Given the various stated data, it can be deduced the freighter averages about 6,900 MPH and at 5 months away from Mars it was about 24.8 million miles away. Atlas traveling at 17,500 MPH was said to be 3 weeks away from Mars, or about 8.8 million miles. This places Atlas about 16 million miles ahead of the freighter.
In 10 weeks, the freighter would travel 11.5 million miles, while the faster Atlas would travel over 29 million miles.
Using the turn around option would allow the two to dock in about 4 weeks.