Lists of fictional astronauts | ||
---|---|---|
Early period | Project Mercury | Project Gemini |
Project Apollo | 1975–1989 | 1990–1999 |
2000–2009 | 2010–2029 | Moon |
Inner Solar System | Outer Solar System | Other |
Far future |
The following is a list of fictional astronauts exploring the inner Solar System.
Name(s) | Appeared in | Program / Mission / Spacecraft | Fictional date |
---|---|---|---|
Norman Paul "Dave" Davis, Maj. (Commander) Bernhard "Bud" Gierr, Capt. Orren "Doc" Lorimer, Dr. (Scientist) | Houston, Houston, Do You Read? (1976), novella | NASA Sunbird One | Near Future (before 2000) |
Crew of first circumsolar mission travels forward to time when male humans no longer exist. [1] [2] | |||
Euclid Station: Takumi George Lizzy (no last names given) Unnamed personnel Satellite tender: Max (Pilot) (no last name given) Travis "Trav" Hill, Ph.D. High-orbit shuttle: Six unnamed astronauts Robin Braide (CAPCOM) Starfire (test flight): Robin Braide (Commander) Leroy "Spin" Calder (Pilot) Melinda Wooster (Navigation and communication [NAVCOM]) James Giles, Lt. Col. (USAF) (Mission Specialist) Linwood "Doc" Deveraux, Dr. (Propulsion control [PROP]) Starfire (operational flight): Robin Braide (Commander) Spin Calder (Pilot) Melinda Wooster (NAVCOM) Travis Hill, Prof. (Ph.D.) (Mission Specialist) Linwood Deveraux, Dr. (PROP) Dick Crease (Alternate crew commander) | Starfire (1988), novel | NASA: Euclid Station (polar orbit space station) Satellite tender (call sign "Twinkletoes") High-orbit shuttle Archimedes Station (equatorial orbit space station) Starfire (fusion-powered spacecraft) | c. 2015 (September) – August 2023 |
Fusion-powered spacecraft Starfire flies operational mission to Apollo asteroid 2021 XA (a.k.a. Everest), which is falling into the Sun. Wooster and Hill are first humans on an asteroid. [3] [4] | |||
Skytown: "Skeet" Kelso, Adm. Avery Unnamed personnel Helios: Steve Kelso, Capt. (Commander) Borg, Capt. (Executive Officer) Alex Noffe (UK) (Project Officer) Harvard Clark Gordon, Lt. McBride Jensen Tracy "Bobby" Meeks, Lt. (Cryogenics and propulsion) Ken Minami, Dr. (Japan) Lamare T.C. (France) Seven other astronauts | Solar Crisis (1990), film | United Command: Skytown (space station) U.S.S. Helios Ra (probe) Chicago (cargo ship) | 2050 |
Mission to deflect solar flare from destroying all life on Earth. Noffe is a "biogenetically enhanced human". [5] | |||
Icarus I: Pinbacker (Captain) Fischer Nakazawa Lin Esteves Chow Boes White (no first names given) Icarus II: Kaneda (Captain) Harvey (Comms Officer/Second-in-command) "Cassie" Cassidy (Pilot) Mace (Engineer/Co-pilot) Trey (Navigator) "Cory" Corazon (Biologist/Life support) Robert Capa (Physicist) Searle, Dr. (Psych Officer) | Sunshine (2007), film | Icarus Project: Icarus I Icarus II | 2050 2057 |
Icarus I vanishes on mission to reignite dying Sun with nuclear device; seven years later, Icarus II crew attempt same mission. [6] [7] [8] | |||
Anton Harkov Ivan Vanko Unnamed cosmonauts/scientists | Iron Man: Armored Adventures "Iron Man vs. the Crimson Dynamo" (2009), TV | Project Pegasus: Prometheus One (space station) Escape shuttle | Contemporary |
Russian cosmonaut Vanko is caught in solar flare while testing Crimson Dynamo armor on EVA from space station in solar orbit. Two years later, the Crimson Dynamo returns to Earth. |
Name(s) | Appeared in | Program / Mission / Spacecraft | Fictional date |
---|---|---|---|
First mission: Pavlik (no first name given) Second mission: Hugh Kellard Binetti (Communications Officer) (no first name given) Morse (no first name given) Y-90: Shay (Navigator) (no first name given) Two unnamed crewmen John Halfrich Hugh Kellard Morgenson (Biophysicist) (no first name given) | "Sunfire!" (1962), short story | Survey: Y-90 (experimental cruiser) | Future (Autumn) |
On second crewed mission to "Sunside" of Mercury, Kellard encounters intelligent photon-based lifeforms. Kellard was on the first mission to Ganymede. [9] | |||
Willard "Will" Rowson (Captain) Camille Burkett, Ph.D. (Mineralogist) Eileen Harmon, Dr. (Stratigrapher) Joe Mardikian, Dr. (Geophysicist) Tom Marini, Dr. (Biologist) Milt Schlossberg, Dr. (Astronomer) Luigi Aiello Babineau (Medic) (no first name given) Ren Hargedon Mary Spurr (Spacesuit technician) Eric Trackman (Nuclear engineer) Arnie Zaino (Communications specialist) | "Hot Planet" (1963), short story | Albireo | Future |
Crew investigating Mercury's development of a temporary atmosphere. [10] [11] | |||
Clifford Greenberg, Col. | 2061: Odyssey Three (1987), novel | Unknown | 2030s |
First man on Mercury, who landed at the south pole, joins the complement of the luxury spaceliner Universe thirty years later for the first landing on Halley's Comet. [12] | |||
Marshall Donnington (Commander) Lee Tahori (Pilot) Victoria Preston | Collision Earth (2011), TV movie | Space Shuttle USS Nautilus | Near Future (Autumn) |
Astronauts preparing to orbit Mercury when solar event sets planet on collision course with Earth. | |||
John Russell, Capt. | Give Me Space (2016), short film | Unknown | Future |
Astronaut stranded on inhabited Mercury by lack of fuel. |
Name(s) | Appeared in | Program / Mission / Spacecraft | Fictional date |
---|---|---|---|
Harringway Hawling, Prof. (Commander/Physicist) (US) Raimund Brinkman/Robert Brinkman (Pilot) (Germany) (American in US version) Durand, Prof. (Chief Engineer) (USSR) (French in US version) Lao Tsu/Tchen Yu, Dr. (Linguist/Biologist) (China) Sumiko Omigura, M.D. (Physician) (Japan) Orloff, Prof. (Engineer/Nuclear Physicist) (Poland) Sikarna, Prof. (Mathematician) (India) Talua (Communications) | Der Schweigende Stern (a.k.a. First Spaceship on Venus, The Silent Star, The Astronauts, Planet of the Dead, Spaceship Venus Does Not Reply) (1960), film | World Federation for Space Research: Luna 3 (Moonbase) Kosmokrator I (Cosmostrator I in US version) | 1970 (1985 in US version) |
First mission to Venus discovers remnants of extinct civilization. Some names and nationalities different in original German version; in US version, Brinkman was first American on Moon. [13] [14] [15] [16] | |||
Jerry Garfield (Engineer-Navigator) Graham "Hutch" Hutchins, Dr (Biologist) George "Cole" Coleman (Scientist) | "Before Eden" (1961), short story | Morning Star | Future (before 2010) |
Discoverers of life near the south pole of Venus. [17] | |||
Barbara Clinton (Captain) (USCG Aux) Dana Perry (Navigator/Medical Technician) Joanna Sue Toliver (Engineer) | Sea Hunt The Aquanettes (1961), TV | Operation Astronette | Contemporary |
Female astronauts training for mission to Venus. | |||
Soviet Space Force: Sonya Mikhailovna, Maj. (Dr.) U.S. Space Force: Gordon Andrews, Capt. Three-person spacecraft: Unnamed pilot (UK) Unnamed obstetrician (USSR) Unnamed nurse (US) | "Boy Meets Dyevitza" (1962), short story | Soviet Space Force United States Space Force United Kingdom / Soviet Union / United States: Three-person spacecraft | c. 1960s/1970s |
Experienced orbital pilot Andrews discovers that Mikhailovna has landed on Venus before him. Dymov, a Soviet cosmonaut, is mentioned as having been the first man on the Moon. [18] | |||
Vega: Allan Kern/Alfred Kerns, Capt. Scherba/Allan Sherman/Howard Sherman Masha/Marsha Evans [lower-alpha 1] Sirius: Ilya Vasilyevich Vershinin/Brandon Lockhart/William Lockhart, Cmdr. Alyosha/André Ferneau Roman Bobrov/Hans Walters | Planeta Bur (a.k.a. Planet of Storms, Storm Planet, Cosmonauts on Venus) (1962), film Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet (1965), film Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women (aka The Gill Women of Venus) (1967), film | Soviet Union: Sirius Vega Capella (ships unnamed in Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women) [lower-alpha 2] United States: Space Station Texas (Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women only) | Near Future (Planeta Bur) 2020 (Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet) 1998–2000 (Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women) |
Three-spacecraft expedition to Venus loses spacecraft Capella to meteor; other two crews discover reptilian creatures and evidence of intelligent life. Film was twice re-edited for American release with character names changed. [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] | |||
Jefferson "Jeff" Barton, Brig. Gen. | The Outer Limits Cold Hands, Warm Heart (1964), TV | Project Vulcan | Near Future |
Astronaut (played by William Shatner) afflicted by a mysterious disease after a mission to Venus. [25] [26] | |||
Howie "Shorty" (no last name given) Eric "Doc" Donovan (last name uncertain) | "Becalmed in Hell" (1965), short story | NASA: Venus ship | c. 1980s? |
NASA astronauts in danger on mission to Venus. Eric, survivor of spacecraft crash on Moon, is an isolated central nervous system plugged into controls of Venus ship. [27] [28] | |||
Arcturus III: Two unnamed astronauts Arcturus IV: Unnamed astronaut | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea The Silent Saboteurs (1965), TV | United States: Arcturus III Arcturus IV | 1976 |
When foreign power uses force field to destroy Arcturus III on re-entry, Seaview personnel must save Arcturus IV from same fate. [29] | |||
Arthur "Artie" Cory (last names not given) | "I Am the Doorway" (1971), short story | Project Zeus | Near Future (after 1979) |
Presumed NASA crew on flight to Venus similar to cancelled Manned Venus Flyby. Arthur infected with alien organism, possibly during Cory's EVA; left paraplegic when parachutes malfunction. Cory dies in landing. Other astronauts mentioned: Markhan and Jacks made first Mars landing in 1979; Pedersen and Lederer lost in solar orbit on Apollo mission; John Davis killed by meteoroid strike on orbital observatory. [30] [31] | |||
Kennedy II: X Y Z (Commander) (names not given) Venus mission: Joseph Jackson/Jack Josephson, Capt. (Commander) Harry M. Evans, Col. (USAF) (Co-Pilot) | Beyond Apollo (1972), novel | Kennedy II (Mars spacecraft) Unknown (Venus spacecraft) | May 1976 1981 |
After disastrous crewed Mars mission in 1976, two-man Venus mission ends in madness and death. [32] [33] | |||
Isvestia-2: Igor Nikanov United States: Williams, Maj. (Co-Pilot/Systems Engineer) Brown, Dr. (Flight Surgeon) Sharp, Lt. (Instrument Tech/Assistant Navigator) Project Astra: Don Price, Col. (Flight Commander) Georgianna "Georgie" Bronski, Maj. (Soviet Union) (Co-Pilot/Survival Specialist) Danny, Lt. (Communications) Kurt Mason, Capt. (Navigator) Christopher "Doc" Perry, Dr. Marion Turner, Dr. (Flight Surgeon/Microbiologist) Katie Carlson, Lt. (Computer Instrument Tech/Meteorologist) | Doomsday Machine (a.k.a. Escape from Planet Earth) (1972), film | Soviet Union: Isvestia-2 [sp.?] United States: Project Astra [lower-alpha 3] | 1975 |
Project Astra astronauts on two-year mission to Venus. Williams, Brown and Sharp are replaced on Astra crew at last minute. Bronski was the first woman on the Moon. Isvestia-2 strongly resembles an Apollo CSM. [34] | |||
Cloudlab: Ed Townsend (Project Director) Deborah Townsend (Communications specialist) Chang Wu (Computer Center staff) Wagner, Mr. and Mrs. (Algae Ecology biologists) (no first names given) c. 50 unnamed personnel Hoverjet: David White (Pilot) Chris Wagner (Technician) | "Cloudlab" (1975), short story | Cloudlab (space station) Hoverjets | Future |
While on algae-seeding mission from station in Venusian atmosphere, White and Wagner become first humans on Venus when they crash-land on Sagan Mountain. [35] | |||
Goodie, Dr. | 1st Issue Special #10 (January 1976), comic book | NASA: Alpha Zero | Contemporary |
Surgeon injured on mission to Venus is turned into cyborg by aliens and becomes leader of a superhero group. [36] [37] | |||
USAS Outpost: Miles Davidow, Capt. Daniel Braithwaite, Maj. Hughes, Dr. (no first name given) Highlander: Harry (no last name given) Unnamed pilot Delta One: Kate Girard, Cmdr. Scott Perkins, Dr. (Physician) Unnamed engineer | The Outer Limits The Joining (1998), TV | USAS Aphrodite Project: USAS Outpost Highlander (resupply ship) Delta One | November 2011 – June 2012 |
Davidow is sole survivor of disaster on Venus. USAS Outpost is located in Aphrodite Highlands. | |||
Antares: Ted Shaw (Mission Commander) Nadia Schilling (Germany) (Pilot/Second-in-command) Maddux Donner (Engineer/Venus lander pilot) Zoe Barnes (Geologist/Venus lander co-pilot) Jen Weston Crane (Canada) (Biologist) Evram "Ev" Mintz, Dr. (Israel) (Physician/Psychiatrist) Paula Morales (Payload Specialist) Steven "Wass" Wassenfelder (Physicist) Mike Goss, Dr. (Flight Director) Rollie Crane, Cmdr. (CAPCOM) Claire Dereux, Dr. (Canada) (Flight Surgeon) Ajay Sharma (India) (Engineer) Arnel Poe, Ph.D. (Engineer) | Defying Gravity (2009), TV | International Space Organization (ISO): Orion 2 Supply pod Antares Crossbow (Venus lander) Talos (Mars lander) | 2047 2052 (September – November) |
In 2047, ASCANs train for potential assignment to Antares mission. Five years later, Antares departs Earth on grand tour of Solar System, starting with Venus. Mission commander Rollie Crane and engineer Sharma are replaced at last minute by backups Shaw and Donner due to mysterious buildups of cardiac plaque. Crew launches from Earth on Orion 2 on September 27, 2052. | |||
E-B command ship: Ivar (Commander) Sandrine (no last names given) merleta: Bruno Almeida (Scientist) Vinicius Santos (Scientist) HighPoint space station: Tania Stern Tom Weatherell Mason Cline | "Windshear" (2015), short story | Euro-Brazilian (E-B) mission: Command ship merleta (lifting body/aerostat) Recovery dart HighPoint Industries: Space station Landis (aerostat) | Future |
Brazilian astronaut Almeida is stranded aboard the damaged merleta after collision with a recovery dart. [38] | |||
Unknown Russian spacecraft: Sergei (no last name given) NashaSlava1: Klara Vasily Yuraj (no last names given) JanHus1: Jakub Procházka | Spaceman of Bohemia (2017), novel | Russia: Unknown spacecraft NashaSlava1 (space shuttle) Space Program of the Czech Republic (SPCR): JanHus1 (space shuttle) | 2018 (April – Winter) |
Missions to investigate comet dust cloud between Earth and Venus; Russian missions are secret "phantom" missions. Klara's mother, Dasha Sergijovna, crewed a "phantom" suicide mission with another cosmonaut in 1962, trying to reach Mars. [39] [40] [41] [42] | |||
Venera: Unnamed cosmonaut Aphrodite-1: McBride (Commander) Artanian (Command Remote Module Pilot [CRMP]) (no first names given) | "The Utmost Bound" (2018), short story | Soviet Union: Venera NASA: Aphrodite-1 | Future |
Aeneas rover, nicknamed Little Buddy and controlled from Venusian orbit by NASA astronauts, discovers a secret crewed Soviet lander from 20th century in Lakshmi Planum. McBride is on his fifth spaceflight. [43] |
Name(s) | Appeared in | Program / Mission / Spacecraft | Fictional date |
---|---|---|---|
EUROSEC: Borgener Mitchell (no first names given) Phoenix: Glenn D. Ross, Col. (NASA) John Kane, Dr. (UK) (Astrophysicist) | Doppelgänger (aka Journey to the Far Side of the Sun) (1969), film | European Space Exploration Complex (EUROSEC) Operation Sun Probe: Phoenix SSTO lifting body (lander) Dove (aka DOPPELGANGER) (SSTO lifting body) | 2069 |
EUROSEC mission to a newly discovered unknown planet orbiting on exactly the opposite side of the Sun from Earth. Ross is a veteran of two Mars missions. [44] [45] [46] [47] | |||
Neil Stryker, Col. | The Stranger (aka Stranded in Space) (1973), TV movie | Pilgrim (3-man interplanetary craft) | Contemporary |
NASA astronaut who crash-lands on a duplicate of Earth ruled by a totalitarian regime. [48] |
Name(s) | Appeared in | Program / Mission / Spacecraft | Fictional date |
---|---|---|---|
Warren "Marc" Marcusson Samuel A. Conrad (Biologist) | "Brothers Beyond the Void" (1952), short story The Twilight Zone "People Are Alike All Over" (1960), TV | Unknown | Near Future |
Travellers to Mars; Marcusson dies after landing, Conrad is imprisoned by Martians. (In short story Marcusson travels to Mars alone, and his first name is Charles.) [49] [50] [51] [52] | |||
Mars 1: Edward McCauley, Col. (Commander) Jim Nichols, Capt. [lower-alpha 4] Ralph Devers, Maj. Mars 2: Edward McCauley, Col. (Commander) Vic Devery, Maj. James Nichols, Capt. [lower-alpha 5] Morrow, Dr. (Scientist) Russia: Tolchek, Col. (Commander) Gulyt, Maj. | Men into Space (a.k.a. Space Challenge) Mission To Mars, Flight To the Red Planet (1960), TV | United States Air Force: Mars 1 Mars 2 Russia: Unnamed spacecraft | c. 1970 – 1980 |
Initial efforts to reach Mars. Mars 1 aborts flight to rescue Russian crew; Mars 2 lands on Phobos. [53] [54] | |||
Harold Barth, Lt Col. (Commander) Robert L. Greene, Maj. (Doctor) Saul Moulton, 1st Lt. Edward Krozney, Capt. James Wallach, Capt. Luthern J. White, Capt. | "Whatever Gods There Be" (1961), short story | Groundbreaker II | Future (Late 20th or early 21st century) |
Crew of an early Mars mission who find themselves faced with an agonizing choice after a landing accident forces them to dump weight or be unable to leave the planet. [55] | |||
Lunar Seven: Dr. Farraday (head of Space Institute) (no first name given) Bradley (no first name given) Unnamed personnel Freight rockets: Unnamed personnel Oceano: Anders Brockman, Cmdr. (Captain) Tanya Krilova/Laura James (United States) Paul Grant Meteor: Tony Barrata (Pilot) Andrei Sayenko/Allan Brenner (Co-pilot) | Mechte Navstrechu (a.k.a. A Dream Come True, Encounter in Space, Toward Meeting a Dream) (1963), film Queen of Blood (a.k.a. Planet of Blood) (1966), film | International Institute of Space Technology (a.k.a. Space Institute): Moonbase (Lunar Seven) Freight rockets Command Ship Oceano Meteor Rescue ship Oceano II | 1990 (Queen of Blood) |
Soviet film reconfigured for American release with names changed, new cast and altered ending. Mars missions to rescue stranded aliens; Oceano lands on Mars, Meteor on Phobos. First successful Moon landing took place around 1970. [56] [57] [58] [59] | |||
George Lincoln John F. Adams Dwight D. Roosevelt Thomas Alva Wright | "Harry Protagonist, Brain-Drainer" (1964), short short story | NASA: Project Long Leap | Near Future |
Disaster ensues when the minds of millions of Americans are linked to those of the crew of the first Mars mission. [60] | |||
M-1: Fred Thomas, Capt. (Commander) James Bowman, Lt. M-2: Charles "Lucky" [lower-alpha 6] Merritt, Maj. (Commander) Jack Buckley, Capt. Paul Lazzari, Capt. Frank Johnson, Lt. | The Outer Limits The Invisible Enemy (1964), TV | Interplanetary Vehicle M-1 (Colonization Probe) M-2 | 2021 May 8, 2024 |
Investigating the deaths of the two-man crew of the M-1 mission, the M-2 crew discovers carnivorous creatures living under the Martian sands. [61] [62] | |||
Dan "Mac" McReady, Col. (Commander) Christopher "Kit" Draper, Cmdr. (USN) (Co-Pilot) | Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964), film | Mars Gravity Probe-1 (Elinor M) | Future |
NASA astronauts visiting Mars; one dies, the other is stranded. [63] [64] [65] | |||
Second Martian Expedition: James Thornton Brown Alec Dupres Fornier Edwin E. Challenger (USAF) Unnamed crewmembers Jove 7: Sven Bjornsen Sam "Ark" Arkwright "Chan" Chandra Mars-12-X: Harley Jacobs Lewis Nostrand Tatsu Nakomura, Dr. (passenger) Fabian Smith, Dr. (passenger) | Tin Lizzie (1964), novelette | Second Martian Expedition: Two Mark I space taxis (built by Ford Motor Company Aerospace Division) Jove 7 (tugship) American Museum of Natural History expedition: Mars-12-X | Future |
Second Martian Expedition abandoned space taxis on Phobos after they mysteriously began leaking. Approximately 80 years later, Challenger, now a retired brigadier general, advises Jove 7 crew as they use the space taxis to rescue the crew of Mars-12-X, which has also begun leaking after landing in the Xanthus Desert. [66] | |||
Tigran Biryuzov Five unnamed cosmonauts | The Wanderer (1964), novel | First Soviet People's Expedition (three ships) | Near Future |
Cosmonauts orbiting Mars when artificial planet emerges from hyperspace into Earth orbit. [67] | |||
Walt Dangerfield Lydia Dangerfield | Dr. Bloodmoney, or How We Got Along After the Bomb (1965), novel | Dutchman IV | c. 1980s |
Mars-bound astronauts trapped in Earth orbit by the outbreak of World War III. [68] | |||
Jack Westermark, Capt. Eight unnamed crewmembers | "Man In His Time" (1965), short story | Unknown (UK?) | Near Future (August) |
Westermark, sole survivor of first human Mars mission, finds himself living 3.3077 minutes ahead of Earth time. [69] [70] | |||
Alec Barham, Col. | The Outer Limits The Brain of Colonel Barham (1965), TV | Unknown | Near Future |
Astronaut dying of leukemia volunteers for project to install his brain in Mars probe. [71] | |||
Steve Doc Charlie Dorothy | The Wizard of Mars (a.k.a. Horrors of the Red Planet) (1965), film | Mars Probe One | January 1, 1975 |
Astronauts on Mars orbital mission who crash-land and discover Martian city at end of yellow road. [72] [73] [74] [75] | |||
Kane, Col. (Commander) Beard "Doc" Harlow, Maj. Nazarro (Radioman) (no first names given) | The Time Tunnel One Way To The Moon (1966), TV | Mars Excursion Module (M.E.M.) 4 | 1978 |
American astronauts on first human Mars flight make emergency landing on Moon in Mare Nectaris. [76] [77] | |||
American (unnamed) Russian (unnamed) Chinese (unnamed) | I tre cosmonauti (a.k.a. The Three Astronauts) (1966), picture book | Unknown | Future |
Three astronauts who land simultaneously on Mars. [78] | |||
Swenson, Col. (Command Pilot) Witthoft Reilly, Dr. (First names not given) | "Pioneer Trip" (1967), short story | Unknown | c. 1976 |
Crew of the first crewed US mission to Mars, faced with a critical medical emergency five weeks out from Earth. [79] | |||
Friedman, Capt. Gulliver, Lt. Haertel (MS) Unnamed astronauts | Welcome to Mars (1967), novel | Project Ares: Von Braun Two unnamed sister ships | c. 1980s |
After two teenagers get stranded on Mars testing a home made anti-gravity device, NASA is forced to mount a rescue mission using more conventional means. [80] | |||
Shioda, Dr. Mars mission: Sano (Captain) Lisa (Biologist) (US) Miyamoto (Communications Officer) Stein, Dr. (Physician) Rescue rocket: Michiko Taki, Capt. | The X from Outer Space (1967), film | Japan: AAB Gamma Lunar Base Rescue rocket | Future |
Seventh attempted Mars mission after previous missions disappeared. Shioda is replaced by Stein due to illness. [81] [82] [83] | |||
Mike Blaiswick, Col. (Pilot) Duncan Nick Grant (Geologist) Soviet Union: Three unnamed cosmonauts | Mission Mars (a.k.a. Murder in the Third Dimension) (1968), film | Unknown | Future |
American astronauts encounter deadly sphere on Mars. [84] [85] [86] [87] | |||
Mars Probe 6: Carrington, Maj. Jim Daniels Mars Probe 7: Joe Lefee Frank Michaels Recovery 7: Charles Van Lyden | Doctor Who The Ambassadors of Death (1970), TV (1987 novel) | Mars Probe Project (UK): Mars Probe 6 Mars Probe 7 Recovery 7 | Contemporary/Near Future |
Daniels was killed on Mars by non-Martian aliens during Mars Probe 6 mission, driving Carrington insane. Van Lyden attempts recovery of Lefee and Michaels. [88] | |||
Adrian Fairley (UK) Four unnamed astronauts Two unnamed astronauts (US) | Doctor Who "Soldiers from Zolta" (1970), short story | Two international spacecraft: Orbiter Mars Bug | Contemporary/Near Future |
Fairley, sole survivor of crash landing of Mars Bug, makes contact with aliens on Mars. [89] | |||
George Cosby, Dr Ralph Norton, Maj William O'Brien Mack Sheldon Irwin Trott Allan Watts, Dr Briggs Compton Glennon Gray Jenkins Lawrenson McKinley Morphy Radcliffe Thompson Vaux Wellgarth Williams | The Earth is Near (1970 (German), 1973 (English)), novel | Project Alpha | Near Future |
Crew of the first human expedition to Mars. [90] | |||
NASA: Henry C. "Hank" Barstow, Col. (Chief of Astronaut Office) Bertrand L. "Bert" Richmond, Col. (Director of Flight Crew Operations) Tom Andretti Bill Desey Rick Johnson Dave McWharter Dick Ohlman Allan Samson Bill Wheatley Planetary Fleet One: Conrad H. [lower-alpha 7] "Connie" Trasker, Jr., Col. (USAF) (Mission Commander/MLV Commander) Alvin S. "Jazz" [lower-alpha 8] Weickert III, Cmdr. (USN) (CSV Commander) J. V. "Jayvee" Halleck, Dr. (MSV Commander) Petros S. "Pete" Balkis, M.D. (MSV Co-Commander) Stuart Yule, Lt. Col. (CAPCOM) Roger Webb, Col. (USAF) (Backup CSV Commander) Planetary Fleet Two: Conrad H. Trasker, Jr. (Mission Commander/MLV Commander) Hugo S. "Gaudy" Gaudet, Cmdr. (USN) (CSV Commander) Emerson "Em" Wacker, Dr. (MSV Commander) Robert Curtis, Dr. (MSV Co-Commander) Soyuz 19: Two unnamed cosmonauts | The Throne of Saturn (1971), novel | NASA Space Station Mayflower Project Argosy: Planetary Fleet One ("Piffy One"): Mars Landing Vehicle (MLV) (Santa Maria) Command-Service Vehicle (CSV) (Nina[ sic ]) Medico-Scientific Vehicle (MSV) (Pinta) Mars Landing Module (MLM) (Adventurer) Planetary Fleet Two ("Piffy Two"): MLV (Santa Maria) CSV (Nina) MSV (Pinta II) MLM (Adventurer) Soviet Union: Space Station Stalin Soyuz 19 ("Man in the Moon") | Late 1970s (April – January) |
First planned Mars mission encounters Soviet interference during test phase at Tranquillity Base on Moon. Trasker is a Gemini and Apollo veteran; Weickert flew a Gemini mission with Trasker. MLV, CSV and MSV are modified Apollo CSMs with NERVA engines, launched by three Saturn Vs. [91] [92] [93] [94] | |||
Olympus: Richmond (Commander) Nine unnamed astronauts Pegasus: Evans Brennan Sam (no last name given) Two unnamed astronauts | "Transit of Earth" (1971), short story | Space Administration (NASA?): Olympus, Pegasus | May 1984 |
Crew of lander Pegasus stranded on Mars prior to a transit of Earth across the Sun. [95] | |||
John Phillips Mars mission: Brice Randolph, Col. Higgins | The Astronaut (1972), TV movie | Unknown | Near Future |
NASA delays disclosure of death of astronaut on a mission to Mars; another man is surgically altered to deceive the wife and the public. [96] | |||
Walter "Bud" Richardson, Col. (Command Pilot) John Oxenshuer, Capt. Dave Vogel, Maj. | The Feast of St. Dionysus (1972), novella | NASA | c. 1990 |
After Richardson and Vogel die in sandstorm on first human Mars mission, Oxenshuer seeks spiritual enlightenment in California desert. Mars landing in Solis Lacus. [97] | |||
Phoenix One: Tadell "Tad" Hansard (US) (Expedition Commander) Anoshi Wantanabe (Japan) Bapti Lal Bose (India) Phoenix Two: Feodore Aleksandrovitch Asturnov (Russia) Dirk Welles (UK) Bern Callieux (Pan-European Community of Nations) Space Shuttles: Unnamed US astronauts | The Far Call (1973), serial; (1978), novel | Phoenix Program: Phoenix One Phoenix Two | 1983 |
International crew of the first human mission to Mars. [98] [99] [100] [101] [102] | |||
Unnamed astronaut Ben Johnson | "The Mars Stone" (1973), short short story | Zeus 7: MEM | Near Future |
First astronauts on Mars make astonishing discovery. [103] | |||
Jules Fishman, Capt. Unnamed woman | "Ups and Downs" (1973), short story | United States: Mars Project | 1993 |
Astronaut on first Mars mission finds mysterious woman in his spacecraft. [104] | |||
Albert Michaelson Thorsen, Prof. | Marsman meets the Almighty (1975), novelette | Unknown Ares | Near Future (Viking landings are referred to in the past tense.) |
NASA Exobiologist selected as crew for the first American human mission to Mars after a remarkable discovery by the first Mars rover in Solis Lacus. [105] | |||
Two unnamed astronauts | Battle of the Planets Rescue of the Astronauts (1978), TV | Unknown (Apollo-like) | Future |
Astronauts who conducted electronic survey of Mars are captured after splashdown by agents of Zoltar. [lower-alpha 9] | |||
Charles Brubaker, Col. (Command Pilot) Peter Willis, Lt. Cmdr. John Walker, Cmdr. | Capricorn One (1978), film/novel | Capricorn One (Apollo-like) | Contemporary/Near Future (January 4 – September) |
Astronauts secretly removed from a NASA mission to Mars – aboard a faulty ship – that goes terribly wrong. [106] [107] [108] [109] | |||
Prometheus One: Steve West Mike (Last name not given) McManus (First name not given) Prometheus Two: Three unnamed astronauts | The Incredible Melting Man (1978), novelization | Prometheus Program: Prometheus One Prometheus Two | Near Future |
Crews of the first American human missions to Mars, attacked by an unknown force once they land. [lower-alpha 10] [110] | |||
Galactic II: Randolph Stuart, Capt. Rigby Deems, Lt. Frank Perlman, Lt. Phoebe Swedlow, Cmdr. [lower-alpha 11] | Sunstrike (1978), novel | Operation Mars: Galactic I Galactic II | 1988 |
Flight crew of the first crewed US mission to Mars, assigned to a desperate mission to prevent a madman from destroying humanity. [112] | |||
Tom Easton (Commander) Bill Frager Michael McKendrick | Meteor (1979), film/novel | Challenger-2 | Near Future |
Astronauts on a spacecraft traveling to Mars that happens to look exactly like Skylab. [113] [114] | |||
Hubbard, Cmdr. (UK) Hamilton (US) (no first names given) | Contamination (aka Alien Contamination) (1980), film | Unknown | Near Future |
Crew of international Mars mission lands at polar ice cap and discovers eggs in cave. [115] | |||
Shiraz Mitradati Petra Greenfield Elke Sergi Shai-Lung Taro Leidu, Dr. | "Voices From The Dust" (1980), short story | Unknown | 2001 |
Astronauts exploring the Valles Marineris who discover something remarkable. [116] | |||
NASA: Ed Christophers Rokby Sylvester Patterson Dwyer (First names not given for the last four US crew) FKA: Mikhail Aleksander Vassili Karklin Anatole Kuznetzov Tchigorin Ilyashenko (First names not given for the last two Russian crew) ESA: Thomas Cavendish Cesare Montuori Kristian Niskanen Axel Lorenz | The Olympus Gambit (1983), novel | Eris (renamed Pallas Athene) | Near Future |
International crew of the first human mission to Mars. [117] | |||
Neal Braddock, Capt. (US) David Tremayne (US) Andrei Kalsinov, Col. (USSR) Olga Denerenko (USSR) Kurt Steiner, Maj. (GER) Phillipe Berdoux, Dr. (FRA) Dominica Mastrelli (ITA) Guy Sterling (Canada) Pamela Cooper (UK) | Murder in Space (1985), TV movie/novel | Unknown Conestoga Space Shuttle Delta 216 | Near Future |
Astronauts and cosmonauts of the International Space Exploration Administration (ISEA) returning from Mars aboard a 'space lab' whose successful mission is suddenly rocked by a series of murders. [118] [lower-alpha 12] | |||
Redenbaugh (Commander) Thomas (Landing party commander) Johnboy Woody | "The Gods of Mars" (1986), short story | Plowshare Lander | Future |
NASA astronauts on first human Mars mission encounter strange alteration of reality. Landing in Chryse Basin. [119] [120] | |||
Shuttlecraft SC37 (NASA Mars mission): Porter, Maj. (Captain) "Doc" (Scientist) Unnamed personnel Shuttlecraft SC37 (L-5 evacuation): Roger Campbell (Computer expert/Acting captain) Adrian Kimberly, Dr. (Science officer) Cal (no last name given) (Security) Billy Lynn, Lt. (Chief Engineer) Sherrie Stevens (Nutritionist) Shuttlecraft SC45: Unnamed personnel L-5: William Hamilton, Col. Mitchell, Lt. Unnamed personnel | Star Crystal (1986), film | Shuttlecraft SC37 Shuttlecraft SC45 L-5 space station | 2032 |
Rock discovered near crater of Olympus Mons contains crystal computer and alien creature. Five L-5 crewmembers escape station's destruction aboard shuttlecraft. [121] | |||
First International Mars Expedition: Leon Odinga [lower-alpha 13] (Nova Africa) (Chief Engineer) Unnamed cosmonauts Second International Mars Expedition: Unnamed cosmonauts | Fire on the Mountain (1988), novel | Pan African Space Administration (P.A.S.A.): First International Mars Expedition Second International Mars Expedition: Lion | 1954 (Alternate History) October 1959 (Alternate History) |
In alternate history in which John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 was successful, cosmonaut Leon is killed in EVA accident on Mars flyby mission. Five years later, Lion makes first human Mars landing. [122] | |||
Nixon Orbital Park: Leroy Johnson (National Park Service) (Station Chief) Mary Poppins: Natasha Alyosha Katerina Ivanovna Kirov (Captain) Bass (no first name given) (Second Officer) Sundiata Cinque Jeffries, M.D. (Third Officer/Chief Medical Officer) Louis Glamour, ASC (Cinematographer) Cary "FF" Fonda-Fox IV (Movie Star) Beverly "BG" Glenn (Movie Star) Greetings Brother Buffalo Gentry (Stowaway) | Voyage to the Red Planet (1990), novel | Old Moulmein Pagoda ( Columbia -class space shuttle) National Park Service (owned by Disney-Gerber): Nixon Orbital Park Voyager Pictures: Mary Poppins Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (lander) | c. 2020 |
First human Mars mission films motion picture. Landing near Candor Chasm in Valles Marineris canyon system. Bass and Johnson are former NASA astronauts. [123] | |||
Martin Gold, Dr. (Geologist) Mary Elizabeth Allen, Dr. (Physician) Lawrence Thompson, Dr. (Physicist) Young Astronauts: Genshiro "Gen" Akamasu (Japan) Sergei Mikhailovich Chuvakin (Russia) Nathan Long (USA) Karl Muller (Germany) Lanie Rizzo (real name Lanie Johnson) (USA) Noemi Tejas y Velasquez (Venezuela) Alice Frances Thorne (New Zealand) Oh Suk "Suki" Long (Japan) Vikram Singh Kovi Oldjai Dale David Leon | The Young Astronauts (1990), novel | Space Shuttle United Nations To Mars Together program: Nina Pinta Santa Maria | Future |
Teenagers compete for opportunity to help colonize Mars. [124] | |||
Viktor Shevchenko (Soviet Union) Gregory Nunn (NASA) | Angel Eyes (1991), novel | Odin-Galaktika II | Contemporary/Near Future |
Aborted first human flight to Mars. Odin-Galaktika II is launched by SL-17 Energiya with six strap-on boosters. [125] | |||
Dean Irwin, Col. (USAF) (Commander) Clifford Horner, Capt. (US Army) John Merritt, Cmdr. (USN) Valentina Tsarev, Col. (Russia) (Doctor) Hiroshi Kawahito (Japan) (Computer specialist) | "The Message from Mars" (1992), short story | Zeus IV | November 2007 – April 29, 2008 |
The crew of the first human Mars mission mysteriously fail to leave their spacecraft after returning to Earth. [126] [127] | |||
Sismondi Napoleon, Cmdr 23 unnamed astronauts | Nomad 4: Desert Fire (1993), novel | Unknown | Early 21st Century [lower-alpha 14] |
Crew of the first human Mars mission, killed by oxygen starvation when substandard components in their spacecraft fail. [128] | |||
Scott Keller (USA) (Commander) Sakata (Japan) Petrovich Unnamed astronaut | seaQuest DSV Better Than Martians (1994), TV | Space Command: Wayfarer | 2018 |
When the Wayfarer sinks upon splashdown, seaQuest mounts a rescue mission. Keller was first human on Mars. Astronauts took Martian core samples from Tharsis Bulge/Olympus Mons. | |||
James (Commander) Henry Pierre Don Geoff (no last names given) Unnamed astronaut | "Homecoming" (1995), short story | NASA: Mars 1 | Near Future |
When nuclear engine fails on approach to Mars, unnamed astronaut kills his crewmates in order to stay alive. [129] | |||
Al Wells (Commander) Ed Barkley Pete Claridge, Dr. | The Outer Limits The Voyage Home (1995), TV | American Space Agency (ASA): Mars III | Contemporary/Near Future [lower-alpha 15] |
First human Mars mission is infiltrated by ancient alien species. Barkley was first man on Mars. | |||
First Aerospace Squadron (NASA): Bill Amundsen (Squadron commander) Phobos One: Walter Gander (USA) (Commander) Dmitri Tomasovich (Russia) (No surname given) Three unnamed astronauts (ESA, Japan, China) Mars Five: Walter Gander, Capt. (USA) (Commander) Olga Trigorin (Russia) (Engineer/First Officer) Jason Terence (USA) (Pilot/Second Officer) Narihara "Nari" Nigawa, Ph.D. (Japan) (Mission Specialist) Ilsa Bierlein (ESA) (Mission Specialist) Vassily Chebutykin, Ph.D. (Russia) (Mission Specialist) Dong Te-Hua (China) (Mission Specialist) Paul Fleurant (France) (Mission Specialist) Kireiko Masachi (Japan) (Mission Specialist) Tsen Chou-zung, Dr. (China) (Mission Specialist) Mark Bene (Yankee Clipper return pilot) Dean (No surname given), CAPCOM Mars Five Alpha: Scotty Johnston (USA) (Pilot) Robert Prang (USA) (Sedimentologist) Eight unnamed astronauts (USA, Russia) Korolev Base: Yvana Borges (Base manager) Das "Doc C." Chalashajerian, Dr. Pete Johnson (USA) (Biophysicist) Akira Yamada (Japan) (Meteorologist) Jim Flynn (USA) | Encounter with Tiber (1996), novel | Phobos One: Mars-Earth Return Cycler (MERC) Aldrin Lander (modified Apollo II) Mars Five: Yankee Clipper (SSTO) MarsHab Mars Five Alpha: MERC Aldrin Korolev Base | 2018 2033 |
On Phobos One mission, Gander and Dmitri make first human landing on Phobos on December 25, 2018. In 2033, Mars Five and Mars Five Alpha travel to Mars to help excavate alien artifacts near established base in Crater Korolev. [130] | |||
D-prime mission: Adam Bleeker (CDR) Ralph Gershon (Mars Excursion Module Pilot [MMP]) Ares: Philip Stone (CDR) Natalie B. York, Ph.D. (Mission Specialist [MSP]) Ralph Gershon (MMP) | Voyage (1996), novel | NASA: D-prime mission: Apollo CSM (New Jersey) Mars Excursion Module (MEM) 009 (Iowa) Ares: Apollo CSM (Discovery) Mission Module (Endeavor[ sic ]) MEM (Challenger) | August 1984 (Alternate History) March 21, 1985 – November 6, 1986 (Alternate History) |
In alternate history, D-prime mission is test flight of Mars lander (MEM) in Earth orbit. Ares flies first human Mars mission (with Venus flyby for gravity assist); landing at Mangala Vallis in March 1986. [131] | |||
Mars Probe: Grosvenor Guest (no first names given) Mars Probe 13: Alexander "Lex" Christian (Space Defence Division) (Commander) Albert Fitzwilliam Madeline Goodfellow Mars 97: Richard Michaels, Capt. (Commander) Andi McCray Bob Haigh Claudia (no last name given) Campbell Singh McGowan Lewis (no first names given for last four) | Doctor Who The Dying Days (1997), novel | Mars Probe Project (UK) Mars 97 (Mars Orbiter/Mars Lander) (UK) | 1970s/1980s May 1997 |
Christian, accused of murdering Fitzwilliam and Goodfellow after Mars Probe 13's departure from Mars, escapes in May 1997 after 20 years' imprisonment. At the same time, Mars 97 mission to Mare Sirenum runs into trouble. Grosvenor and Guest made first human Mars landing at bottom of Olympus Mons during earlier Mars Probe Project. [132] | |||
Mars Voyager: Boris Brodsky (Russia) (Commander) Martin A. Chadwick (USA) (Geologist) Chou Lin (China) (Physicist) Georgi Maladev (Russia) (Pilot/Navigator) Adam J. Thompson (USA) Jeffery Walker, Dr. (Great Britain) (Microbiologist/Physician) Kishi Yamoto (Japan) (Electronics specialist) Celeste: Adam Thompson (USA) (Commander) Louis Alvarez (Spain) (Pilot) Matthew C. Duncan, Prof. (Canada) (Linguist) Erica Williams Duncan (USA) (Registered Nurse) Brian T. Hawkins (Great Britain) (Physicist) Sanjay Kanti (India) (Electrical engineer) Valeri Karamov (Russia) (Pilot) Frank Manzoni (Italy) (Physicist) Carlos Niemeyer (Brazil) (Communications/computer specialist) Marina Selveg (Russia)(Microbiologist/Physician) Henri Talon (France) (Computer specialist) Sato Tanaka (USA) (Communications) Copernicus: Frank Morgan (Pilot) Samantha Jackson (Copilot) Lunar Colony: Donald T. Hartman (Director) Irene Hartman 26 unnamed personnel | The Face on Mars (1997), novel | Space Station Prometheus Mars Voyager Explorer (lander) Celeste (refitted Mars Voyager) Questor (lander) Lunar shuttle Copernicus Lunar Colony | 2040 2044 |
The first two crewed missions to Mars investigate the mysterious "Cydonia Face", but the second expedition must combat violence from within. First landing near southeast corner of Acidalia Planitia; second landing closer to Face. [133] | |||
Andrew Poe (Biochemist) Carl Dee Scott (no last names given for last three) | Ghost Stories Cold Dark Space (1997), TV | Mars Mission Venture (MV 1) | Future |
Crew of spacecraft struck by meteoroid while returning from Mars. | |||
Gary Hackman (Computer specialist) Gordon A. Peacock (Computer specialist) Aries: William "Wild Bill" Overbeck (Commander) Julie Ford (Mission Specialist/Geologist) Fred Z. Randall (Computer specialist) | RocketMan (1997), film | NASA: MTS-1 Aries Pilgrim One (lander) | Contemporary/Near Future |
Geeky computer genius Randall is last-minute replacement for Hackman on first human Mars mission; Peacock is potential alternate replacement. Landing at Planitia Base near Valles Marineris. [134] [135] [136] | |||
Hannon, Maj. (no first name given) [lower-alpha 16] Geophysical Station 2375BN: Minsky, Dr. (no first name given) Antares 9G: Elaine Botkins, Capt. (Mission Commander) Bryan Minsky, Spec. (Engineer) | Winged (1997), short film | ENSA: Geophysical Station 2375BN Antares 9G (shuttle) | 2049 (March – May 20) |
Dr. Minsky refuses to accompany his crew when they leave space station in Martian orbit; Capt. Botkins and Minsky's son Bryan are sent to convince him to leave. Antares 9G arrives at station on May 20, 2049. | |||
Schiaparelli: Zoe Nash (Expedition Leader/Chief Pilot/Backup Communications) Reza Armani (Chief Geologist/Areologist/Backup Pilot) Ludwig Holter (Germany) (Communications/Backup Computer Specialist) Jenny Kopal (Hungary) (Computer Specialist/Backup Head of Instrumentation) Alta McIntosh-Mohammad (Great Britain/Federation of Indian States) (Chief Engineer) Wilmer Oldfield (Australia) (Astronomer) Celine Tanaka (Head of Instrumentation/Physician) ISS-2: Ursula Klein Lawrence Morphy Two unnamed astronauts | Aftermath (1998), novel | Schiaparelli ISS-1 ISS-2 | 2026 (from February 9) |
Crew of first Mars expedition tries to return home after Earth's technology is devastated by electromagnetic pulse caused by gamma ray burst from Alpha Centauri supernova. [137] | |||
Patrick Ross, Cmdr. (Captain) Dennis Gamble Anne Sampas | Species II (1998), film | National Space Exploration [?] (N.S.E.G.): Excursion (incorporates space shuttle) Lander (Eagle?) | Near Future |
Ross, the first man on Mars, and Sampas are infected by alien DNA from Martian soil sample. [138] [139] | |||
Lia Poirier (Sagan Commander [Mars]) John Rank (Sagan Commander [Flight]) Andrea Singer (Mission Chemist) Bill Malone (Mission Architect) Sergei Andropov (Mission Biogeochemist) | Escape from Mars (1999), TV movie | International Mars Venture (IMV): Sagan | 2015 |
Two-and-a-half year mission funded by private consortium. [140] [141] | |||
NASA: Robbie "Robbs" Barth Mars Consortium: Katherine Molina (Pilot) Venture: Viktor Nelyubov (Commander) Marc Bryant (Pilot/Geologist) Julia "Jules" Barth (Biologist/Medical Officer) Raoul Molina (Mechanic) Valkyrie: Claudine Jesum (France) (Commander/Medic) Gerda Braun (Germany) (Engineer) Lee Chen, Dr. (Exobiologist) | The Martian Race (1999), novel | Mars Consortium: Venture (Mars Landing-Habitat Module [Hab]) Airbus Group: Valkyrie NASA: Earth Return Vehicle (ERV) | February 20, 2016 – March 14, 2018 |
NASA and ESA astronauts transfer to private companies competing for $30 billion Mars Prize. Consortium crew makes first human landing on August 9, 2016, in Gusev Crater. [142] | |||
John Mark Kelly, Lt. Rose Kumagawa Andrei Novakovich | Star Trek: Voyager One Small Step (1999), TV | Ares IV | 2032 |
NASA astronauts on an early mission to Mars. | |||
Lee Forbes, Cmdr. Susan Roberts Tanya Webster Paul Webster | Doctor Who Red Dawn (2000), audio play | Ares One | 2000s |
Crew of privately funded NASA mission. Tanya turns out to be part-Martian. | |||
Jesus do Sul: João Fernando Conselheiro, Ph.D. (Commander) Unnamed Brazilian astronaut Agamemnon/Ulysses: Seven unnamed astronauts Don Quijote: John Radkowski (USAF) (Commander) Tanisha Yvonne "Tana" Jackson, M.D./Ph.D. (Medical officer/biologist) Ryan Martin (Canada) (Systems engineer) Chamlong "Cham" Limpigomolchai, Ph.D. (Thailand) (Geologist) Estrela Carolina Conselheiro (Brazil) (Geologist) Brandon Weber (impersonating Trevor Whitman) (Passenger) | Mars Crossing (2000), novel | Brazil: Jesus do Sul NASA: Agamemnon Ulysses (Mars Return Launch Module) Butterfly (Mars airplane) Don Quijote Dulcinea (Mars Return Launch Module) | 2020 2022 2028 |
First three expeditions to Mars, the first two of which result in loss of all crew. Jesus do Sul lands at Martian north pole; Agamemnon lands on eastern rim of Acidalia Planitia; Don Quijote lands on edge of Felis Dorsa. Whitman wins contest for slot on third expedition. [143] [144] | |||
Maggie McConnell (USAF) Bjornstrom (Geologist) Mars 1: Luke Graham, Ph.D. (Commander) Sergei Kirov Nicholas Willis Reneé Coté Mars Recovery Mission: Woodrow "Woody" Blake (Commander) Jim McConnell (Copilot) (USAF) Terri Fisher Phil Ohlmyer WSS: Ray Beck (NASA) (Mars Mission Control Room MMCR) Unnamed personnel | Mission to Mars (2000), film | NASA: Mars I Earth Return Vehicle (E.R.V.) Mars II/Mars Recovery Mission Resupply Module (REMO) World Space Station (WSS) | June 9, 2020 – c. 2022 |
NASA astronauts on the first human mission to Mars and a follow-up mission to rescue them. Mars I launches June 10, 2020; landing in Cydonia. Jim McConnell previously landed crippled Block II Space Shuttle. Maggie and Jim McConnell were assigned as co-commanders of Mars I before Maggie became ill and died. Bjornstrom was originally assigned to Mars II but replaced by McConnell when it turned into Mars Recovery Mission. [145] [146] [147] | |||
Kate Bowman, Cmdr. (USN) Quinn Burchenal, Dr. Bud Chantilas, Dr. Robby Gallagher Chip Pettengil Ted Santen, Lt. | Red Planet (2000), film | Mars-1 | 2057 |
Commercially sponsored crew investigates reported oxygen reduction of automated terraforming of Mars. Solar flare complicates mission and landing crew are at mercy of rogue robot. [148] [149] [150] | |||
Philip J. Fry | Futurama The Luck of the Fryrish (2001), TV | Unknown | 21st century |
The first human on Mars was the nephew and namesake of Philip J. Fry. | |||
NASA: Susan Dillard (Scientist) Ares 7/10: Kennedy "Hampster" Hampton (USN) (CDR) Alexis "Lex" Ohta, Ph.D. (USAF) (PLT) Valerie "Valkerie" Jansen, M.D., Ph.D. (MS1) Bob "Kaggo" Kaganovski, Ph.D. (MS2) Joshua Bennett, CAPCOM/Flight Director | Oxygen (2001), The Fifth Man (2002), novels | NASA: Ares 7/10: Mars Habitation Module (Hab) Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) Earth Return Vehicle (ERV) / Earth Landing Capsule (ELC) | August 14, 2012 – July 4, 2014 (Oxygen) March 16 – May 9, 2015 (The Fifth Man) |
When first human mission to Mars sustains explosion en route, suspicion runs rampant among the crew that one of them is a saboteur. Launch on January 25, 2014; landing on July 3, 2014, at 30°S95°E / 30°S 95°E . Eight months later, crew confronts possibility of infection by Martian pathogen. [151] [152] | |||
Andre Vishniac (Captain) Susana "Susan" Sánchez (Pilot/Second-in-command) Luca Baglioni (Engineer) Jenny "Jen" Johnson (Physician) Fidel Rodrigo (Astrobiologist) Herbert Sagan (Geologist) Lowell (no first name given) (remains on Ares) | Stranded (2001), film | NASA/JPL/LMA/ESA: Ares Mission: Ares (orbital module) Bello (descent module) | 2020 |
Crew of first human Mars mission is stranded after descent module crash-lands near Martian equator and Valles Marineris. Sagan is first man on Mars. [153] | |||
McCarthy (USAF) (Commander) Jeffries Sally "Sal" Spirek (USAF) (Medic/Scientist) Ed Enright, Ph.D. (Geologist) | "Ulla, Ulla" (2002), short story | NASA: Fortitude | 2019–2022 |
First human mission to Mars discovers strangely familiar technology from extinct civilization. McCarthy and Jeffries took part in return Moon mission in 2015. Mars landing on September 2, 2020, in Amazonis Planitia. [154] | |||
Nelson Barnes, Capt. (USAF) Three unnamed astronauts | John Doe Illegal Alien (2003), TV | United States Air Force: Mars Habitat One (Experimental) | February 3 – 7, 2003 |
Astronaut testing technology for potential Mars mission staggers out of woods and is shot by teenager. [155] | |||
Asaph Hall: Don Lawson Sasim Remtulla Percival Lowell: Chuck Zakarian (Commander) Unnamed astronauts | "Mikeys" (2004), short story | NASA: Asaph Hall/Mike Collins Station Percival Lowell | c. 2039 |
Arriving on Deimos ahead of planned Mars landing by Percival Lowell, Lawson and Remtulla make major discovery. [156] | |||
Ares I: Ritter (Captain) (No first name given) Boris Ivanov (Pilot) Jeanne Monier (Engineering Physicist) Roel van Dijk (Planetary Physicist) Mars Trailblazer I: Poul Eriksen, Col. (AFSPC) (Captain) Jacques "Jack" Boutillier, Maj. (USMC Space Division) (Pilot) Linde Hoerter (Planetary atmosphere specialist) Nobuo Okita (Japan) (Nuclear Physicist/Engineer) | "Orbital Base Fear" (2004), short story | Consortium (NASA, ESA, Russian Federation, Japan): Mars Expedition I Consortium (ESA, Russian Federation): Ares I NASA/Air Force Space Command/Japan: Mars Trailblazer I/Orbital Base Phobos Valkyrie (landing shuttle) | Future |
Seven years after failure of Mars Expedition I, Consortium and US crews race to be first on Mars. Trailblazer lands on Phobos near Stickney Crater. [157] | |||
Two unnamed astronauts | Hametsu no Marusu (aka Mars of Destruction) (2005), anime | United States: Mars Exploration Vessel (aka Mars Exploratory Vessel) | 2010 |
Astronauts returning from Mars when spacecraft breaks up on reentry; after debris falls to Earth, hostile creatures called Ancients appear in Tokyo. [158] | |||
Tom Houst | Tom on Mars (2005), short film | The Agency: Delta II | 2049–2054 |
After traveling to Mars alone on second human Mars mission, Houst is told that his girlfriend on Earth never existed. [159] | |||
Sly Delta Honey | The Sea of Perdition (2006), short film | Mars Expedition | Future |
Cosmonaut separated from expedition encounters strange creature on Mars. [160] | |||
Glenn Hartwell (US) (Administrator) (International Space Development Agency) Max "Bull" Teller, [lower-alpha 17] Dr. (US/ISDA) (CAPCOM) Project Olympus: Richard Erwin, Capt. (USN/ISDA) (Mission Commander) Mikhail Cerenkov, Maj. (Russian Air Force/ISDA) (Mission Pilot) Antoine Hébert, Dr. (EU – France/ISDA) (Mission Specialist – Flight Engineer [Nuclear Propulsion]) Jacqueline Decelles, Dr. (Canada/ISDA) (Mission Specialist – Robotics Engineer) Lucia Alarcon, Maj. (M.D.) (USAF/ISDA) (Mission Specialist – Flight Surgeon) Hiromi Okuda, Dr. (Japan/ISDA) (Mission Specialist – Astrobiologist) | Race to Mars (2007), TV | International Mars Partnership (IMP) Project Olympus: Shirase (Cargo Vehicle) Atlantis (MarsHab) Gagarin (Mars Ascent/Descent Vehicle) Terra Nova (Mars Transit Vehicle) Columbia (Earth Return Capsule) | September 12, 2026 – August 31, 2031 |
International crew racing Chinese to find water and life on Mars. Hartwell commanded first mission back to Moon; Erwin previously traveled to the Moon. Departure from Earth orbit on January 26, 2030; Mars landing on December 22, 2030, in Dao Vallis; return to Earth on August 31, 2031. Terra Nova is propelled by nuclear thermal rockets. [161] | |||
Barsoom Express: Jerry Beaden (USN) Tsiolkovski: Nathan Nesius (Captain) Carroway, Dr. (Physician) (no first name given) Michael Carroll Unnamed French geologist ISS: Makarov, Col. (Russia) (no first name given) Unnamed personnel | Cathedral (2009), novelette | NASA: Barsoom Express Tsiolkovski (aka Tsio) International Space Station Soyuz | Near Future [lower-alpha 18] |
Beaden fakes oxygen leak on Martian flyby mission to force landing on Mars and launch of rescue mission, kick-starting human exploration of Mars. Landing west of Olympus Mons. [162] [163] | |||
Zeus: Mike Goss (Mission Commander) Calliope: Ted Shaw Maddux Donner Sharon Lewis Jeff Walker | Defying Gravity (2009), TV | International Space Organization (ISO) Mars 2042: Zeus Calliope (Mars lander) | 2042 |
Calliope lands in Gusev Crater (at 14°36′S173°30′E / 14.6°S 173.5°E ) with secret goal of recovering alien artifact. Walker becomes first human on Mars, but Shaw and Donner are forced to leave Lewis and Walker behind on surface due to dust storm. | |||
Adelaide Brooke, Cmdr. Ed Gold Tarak Ital Andy Stone Margaret Cain Mia Bennett Yuri Kerenski Steffi Ehrlich Roman Groom | Doctor Who The Waters of Mars (2009), TV | Apollo 34 Bowie Base One | November 21, 2059 |
First humans on Mars (contradicting earlier Doctor Who stories), menaced by a water-based Martian life-form and destined by history to die. Base located in Gusev Crater. [164] | |||
Annie Norris, Col. (Commander) Tom Tyler, Maj. Sam Tyler Ray Carling Chris Skelton | Life on Mars Life is a Rock (2009), TV | Aries Project: Hyde 1-2-5 | 2035 |
Crew travels to Mars in suspended animation, using "neural-stims" to keep brains occupied; as a result, Sam Tyler believes he is time-traveling NYPD detective. [165] | |||
NASA: Mitchell Dodd (Scientist) Ares: Christopher Eugene Burke, Capt. (USAF) (Commander) Trisha "Trish" Merriday (USMC) (First Officer) Terry Kessler (Command Module Pilot) Owen "Beech" Beechum (Mission Specialist) | Offworld (2009), novel | Ares | 2031 – 2033 |
NASA astronauts return from first human Mars mission to find Earth deserted. [166] | |||
NASA: Norman Backus (Pilot) Roseanne Kim (Scientist) Denny (no last name given) Excelsior: James Rose, Capt. (Commander/Pilot) Jed Richards, Col. (First Officer) José Rodrigues (Science Officer) Geronimo: Steve Watanabe, Lt. (Pilot) Abu Jmil (First Officer) Deborah Quartz (Science Officer) Pequod: Brandon Lepper, Capt. (Pilot/Science Officer) Laurie Corelli, Capt. (First Officer) Arnold Gilmore, Dr. (Chief Medical Officer) | The Four Fingers of Death (2010), novel | NASA: Excelsior Geronimo Pequod Earth Return Vehicle (ERV) | September 30, 2025 – October 2026 |
Small-time writer Montese Crandall novelizes 2025 remake of 1963 film The Crawling Hand (q.v.), adding back-story of first human Mars mission finding flesh-eating bacteria on Mars. Landing near Valles Marineris. [167] [168] | |||
Hank Morrison (Captain) Casey Cook, Dr. (New Zealand/ESA) Charlie Brownsville (NASA) | Mars (2010), film | NASA/ESA: Minerva 1 | 2015 |
First human Mars mission is secretly financed by billionaire Morrison. Landing on November 29, 2015, in Terra Tyrrhena. Cook is first human on Mars. Brownsville made untethered EVA in 2010 to repair ion propulsion satellite. [169] [170] | |||
Perry Scott, Cmdr. | The Planeteer (2010), short film | NASA: Horizon I | April 22 – 25, 2010 |
Two-time Space Shuttle commander Scott helps eleven-year-old locate missing crew of first human Mars mission. [171] | |||
Kim Yeun-ja (Korea) (Painter/Citizen-Astronaut) Kasei 18: Lynne Ann Morse (Flanders?) (Commander/Climatologist) Kabir Abuja (Nigeria) (Engineer) Audra Miskinis (Lithuania) (Paleobiologist) Gary Shu (Newsblogger/Citizen-Astronaut) Expedition 18: Nam Dae-jung (Korea) (Commander/Geochemist) Suma Handini (Pakistan) (Engineer) Li Huang (China) (Climatologist) Three unnamed astronauts | "Citizen-Astronaut" (2011), short story | United Nations Space Agency (UNSA): Kasei 18 Expedition 18 | Future |
Shu replaces the injured Kim as the first Citizen-Astronaut to travel to Mars. [172] [173] | |||
Tom (Captain) Chandra (Medical Officer) Archie Paolo Rajuk (no last names given) Zoë Morrison, Dr. (Astrobotanist) | "Goodnight Moons" (2011), short story | NASA: Conestoga Sacagawea (return vehicle) | Near Future |
Forty days into first human Mars mission, Morrison learns that she is pregnant. [174] | |||
Unnamed astronaut | Last Flight (2011), short film | Unknown | 2038 |
Lone survivor of Mars Base during nuclear war on Earth walks through Sinai Dorsa and Noctis Labyrinthus. [175] | |||
Two unnamed astronauts | Mars (2011), short film | Eleanor (Unnamed fictional country) Unnamed lander (Unnamed fictional country) | Future |
Astronauts from different countries make first Mars landings nearly simultaneously. [176] | |||
Fire Star: Wen Xiang (China) (Commander) Cooper Jackson (USA) (Flight Surgeon) Julie Davis (USA) (Biologist) Victoria Orlova, Prof. (Russia) (Astrophysicist) Junior Astronauts: Nicolas "Nico" Moreau (France) Aneesa Malik (India) Unnamed junior astronaut Mars Base I: Oscar Schweiger (Chief Mars Settlement Officer) Ivan (Scientist) Helena (Scientist) Gene (Staff engineer) Unnamed staff | Mars: You Decide How to Survive! (2011), gamebook | Fire Star Mars Base I | Near Future |
Junior astronauts join mission to prepare Mars Base I for permanent colonists. Mars Base I located near Valles Marineris and Arsia Mons. [177] | |||
Mars Mission: Unnamed commander Three unnamed astronauts | The Universe Crash Landing on Mars (2011), TV | Mars Mission: Habitat module (Hab) Earth Return Vehicle (ERV) Mars Base Alpha Mars Mission 2 | Near Future |
International crew crashes in eastern Valles Marineris after encountering Martian dust devil during landing. [178] | |||
Zoe Barnes (Captain) Emma Turk, Cmdr. (First Officer) Emit Barnes, Dr. (Scientist) Rogers, Nurse (no first name given) Isaiah Khan Raj Sam (no last names given) Unnamed astronauts | D.O.G.S. of Mars (2012), graphic novel | Department of Global Surveyors (D.O.G.S.): Mars Base Bowie | Future |
Astronauts on mission to terraform Mars are attacked by nocturnal Martian creatures. [179] | |||
Project Emergence: Bahe, Gen. (Navajo Nation) P. Clarke (Corporate Official) Unnamed guard Emergence: Tazbah Redhouse, Cdr. (Pilot) (Navajo Nation) Tobias Smith, Dr. (Omnicorn Corporation) | Futurestates The 6th World: An Origin Story (2012), TV | International Space Station Project Emergence: Emergence | Future |
First mission to colonize Mars uses genetically engineered corn. Gen. Bahe is an experienced astronaut. [180] | |||
NASA: Elma York, Dr. | The Lady Astronaut of Mars (2012), novelette "Rockets Red" (2015), short story | First Mars Expedition Longevity Mission | 1952 – 1954 / 1980s (Alternate History) 1974 (Alternate History) |
In alternate history in which asteroid struck Washington, D.C., in mid-20th century, York took part in First Mars Expedition in 1952. Thirty years later, she is chosen for Longevity Mission to exoplanet LS-579. [181] [182] | |||
J.T. (Canada) (no last name given) | Man On Mars (2012), short film | Unknown | Near Future |
Astronaut launching for 506-day mission to Mars. [183] | |||
Jeff (Scotland) Two unnamed astronauts | Phone Home (2012), short film | NASA | Future |
Astronaut calls his wife from Mars. [184] | |||
Campbell (Commander) (no first name given) Craig Rowe (Pilot/Second-in-command) Amy DeLuca (Lander pilot) Tom Barischoff (Chief Engineer) Kristen Bradfield Ed Carradine Fumi Mashimo (Palaeobiologist) Chris Mendenhall Claire O'Brian (Geophysicist) Aaron Rhodes Lori Childs Rowe (Senior Planetary Scientist/Ice Miner/Engineer's Mate/Assistant Astrogator) Beth Young Diana Cosatti Frank Cosatti Unnamed astronaut | "Taking the High Road" (2012), short story | NASA: Liberty Mars Lander | April 12, 2037 – June 24, 2062 |
Mars-bound crew facing death due to fuel farm explosion on Mars changes course to match orbit with comet 10P/Tempel. [185] [186] | |||
Peter Bennett (Commander) Mark Riley, Capt. Alan Kenneth (Biologist) | Tin Can (2012), film | United States: Cercopes Mars Mission | Near Future |
Astronauts on two-year Mars mission. Mission begins on July 21. | |||
Lisa | Animation Domination High-Def The Dumbest Girl on Mars (2013), TV | NASA | Future |
Astronaut sent to establish Mars base stupidly takes off her helmet. [187] | |||
A. Naut B. Naut | Brickleberry Trip to Mars (2013), TV | NASA: Apollo | Contemporary/Near Future (Spring) |
NASA Mars landing is faked. 1969 Moon landing is also stated to have been faked. | |||
Unnamed Mission Commander Three unnamed astronauts | Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 3: Planet of the Pies (2013), picture book | NASA | Contemporary/Near Future |
Astronauts discover "thick, glutinous substance" falling from the sky on Mars. [188] | |||
Bradley Emerson Elliott, Maj. | The Eye With Which The Universe Beholds Itself (2013), novella | Repurposed Skylab as transfer vehicle, with Apollo Lunar Module for the surface landing | 1979 (Alternate History) |
Mission to Mars based on RR Titus's Flyby-Landing Excursion Module proposal of 1966. | |||
Don Feinberg, Lt. Cmdr. (USN) (Captain) Shaw, Dr. (no first name given) Four unnamed astronauts | "How Was It Up There?" (2013), short short story | Intergalactic Space Mission | Future |
On 300-day Martian flyby mission, Shaw and Feinberg become first people to have intercourse in space. [lower-alpha 19] [189] | |||
Weber, Capt. (USMC) (no first name given) Ernesto Suarez | "The Lamplighter Legacy" (2013), short story | Unknown | September 15, 2021 / September 15, 2081 |
Weber serves as technical advisor for billionaire James Lamplighter's launch of self-replicating 3D printer to asteroid 4660 Nereus, where it builds technology for Mars mission. Teenage blogger Suarez later travels to Nereus; his family later settles on Mars. [190] [191] | |||
Tantalus base: Charles Brunel (Canada) (Commander) Kim Aldrich (UK) (Geologist) Vincent Campbell (USA) (Chief Systems Officer) Lauren Dalby (UK) (Medic) Richard "Harry" Harrington (UK) (Communications) Robert Irwin (UK) Rebecca Lane (UK) (Biochemist) Marko Petrovic (Serbia) Aurora relief team: Unnamed astronauts | The Last Days on Mars (2013), film | International Space Commission (ISC): Aurora Mars Mission 2: Aurora Tantalus base Aurora lander | Future |
Martian explorers discover life, with disastrous results. [192] [193] | |||
Unnamed commander Three unnamed astronauts | Mousetronaut Goes to Mars (2013), picture book | NASA: Galaxy Rocket Mars landing craft | Near Future |
Mouse named Meteor becomes first Earthling on Mars after landing craft engine fails, preventing human crew from landing. Sequel to Mousetronaut: Based on a (Partially) True Story (q.v.). [194] | |||
Kirk "Andy" Anderson (Pilot) Orbital Seven: Drew Bantry (Commander) Kristen Zhang Unnamed personnel | "The Promise of Space" (2013), short story | Spaceways: Unknown (Mars missions) Orbital Seven | c. 2030s – June 2051 |
Anderson, the first man on Phobos and veteran of two Mars missions, develops Alzheimer's-like symptoms after flying rescue mission to Orbital Seven during solar flare. [195] [196] | |||
Samuel Michaels, Capt. (Commander) | Among the Stars (2014), short film | Artemis-939 | Future |
Sole survivor of mission to establish life on Mars records final message in escape pod. [197] | |||
Unnamed astronaut | Delivery from Earth (2014), short film | Unknown | Future |
Astronaut from Gallup, New Mexico is first person to give birth on Mars. [198] | |||
Diomedes 1: Mark Allen (Mission Commander) Daniel Pryor (Biosystems Engineer) Emily Turner (Mars Module Pilot) | Delta-V (2014), short film | NASA: Project Diomedes | Near Future |
Former Space Shuttle commander Allen is offered one-way flight to Mars. [199] | |||
Shuttle 1: Phil Miller (Pilot) Steven Drake, Dr. | Last Sunrise (2014), short film | Micronesia Unilateral Space Fund (MUSF): RedThesis (Mars colony) Shuttle 1 Shuttle 2 Phobos Base Control Center | Near Future |
Astronaut from colony featured in reality TV show is running out of oxygen on Martian surface. Colony located in Hellas Planitia. [200] | |||
Gloria "Glory Hallelujah" Hazeltine (Mission Commander) Ernie Roebuck (Chief Communications Engineer) Unnamed lead biologist Unnamed astronauts Excursion 3 (E-3): Patrick O'Connor (Team Leader) Jacob "Jake" Bernstein (Geologist) Rashid Faiyum (Geologist) | "Mars Farts" (2014), short story | Unknown | Late 21st century (after 2076) |
After meteor shower, Excursion 3 team is stranded near Viking 2 landing site in Utopia Planitia. Mission base at Tithonium Chasma; Excursion 1 site near Olympus Mons. [201] | |||
Ares 1: Karen Rhodes (Mechanical Engineer) Ares 3: Melissa Lewis (USN) (Commander/Geologist) Rick Martinez, Maj. (Pilot) Chris Beck, Dr. (Physician/Biologist/EVA Specialist) Beth Johanssen (Sysop/Reactor Tech) Alex Vogel (Germany/European Union) (Chemist/Navigator) Mark Richard Watney, [lower-alpha 20] Ph.D. (Botanist/Mechanical Engineer) | The Martian (2014), novel; The Martian (2015), film "Diary of an AssCan: A Mark Watney Short Story" (2015), short story | NASA: Ares 1 Ares 3: Hermes Mars Descent Vehicle (MDV) Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) | 2035 |
Sandstorm forces crew to evacuate landing site in Acidalia Planitia, leaving Watney, who is erroneously believed dead, stranded on Mars. In film Martinez is also member of Ares V crew. [lower-alpha 21] [202] [203] [204] [205] [206] | |||
Bart Saxby (NASA chief administrator) Nathan Brice (Flight Director) Arrow: Benson "Bee" Benson (Canada) (Command Pilot) Ted Connover, Ph.D. (USAF) (Pilot) Catherine Clermont, Dr. (France) (Geologist) Virginia "Jinny" Gonzalez (Communications Specialist) Amanda "Mandy" Lynn (USA) (Biologist) Hiram "Hi" McPherson (Geologist) Taki Nomura, Dr. (Japan) (Physician/Psychologist) Mikhail "Mike" Prokhorov (Russia) (Meteorologist) | Rescue Mode (2014), novel | NASA: Arrow Hercules (Mars lander) Fermi (uncrewed lander/surface habitation module) | August 2032 – December 2035 |
First human Mars mission is imperiled by meteoroid impact. Saxby and Brice are former astronauts; Connover is an ISS and International Moon Base veteran. Launch from Earth orbit on April 5, 2035; landing on November 5, 2035, in Elysium Planitia. [207] | |||
Ned Crater (Commander) Flo Comet (Engineer) Alex Nova (Lander Pilot) Izzy Stardust (Science Officer) Lem Cosmos (Engineer) | Space Quest: Mission to Mars (2014), picture book | Space Quest: Unnamed rocket Ramesses Memphis (Mars lander) | 2050 |
Astronauts land on Mars as first stage of mission to explore Solar System. Landing near Valles Marineris. [208] | |||
Unnamed commander Tom Richwood, Sgt. Maj. (Pilot/Systems Engineering Specialist) Rusham Haroun, Dr. (Bioscience Officer) Angela Olvera Mikhail Dankov | Castle The Wrong Stuff (2015), TV | Mars 2018 Project: Tenzing Norgay (simulator) | Contemporary |
Navy and NASA veteran Richwood is murdered during simulation of privately funded mission to Martian northern lowlands. [209] | |||
Samuel Ko | "The Drones" (2015), short short story | Unknown | Future |
First man on Mars arrives in shelter built by insect-like drones. [210] | |||
T. Rymann S. Hartley | Mars 299 792 458 m s 1 (2015), short film | France | December 9, 2034 |
Chaotic situation on Mars. [211] | |||
Ed (no last name given) | MARS-3 (2015), short film | Mars X | December 2, 1971 / 2038 |
Astronaut seeking to recover data from Soviet Mars 3 lander in Ptolemaeus Crater. [212] | |||
Taylor Richards (Orbiter pilot) "Hud" Hudson Bowman | Red Mission (2015), short film | Mars Red II (Recon Orbiter/Lander) | July 19, 2053 |
After Hudson and Bowman make first human landing on Mars, all three astronauts are abducted and placed in artificial Earth-like environment. [213] | |||
Anuli (NASA) (M1) Gil (ISSM) | Red Pearl (2015), short film | Orion International Space Station Mars (ISSM) Mars habitat | 2040 |
US astronaut who grew up in Nigeria explores rim of Victoria Crater. Space station is similar to ISS, but in Martian orbit. [214] | |||
Phoenix: Karie Chen (Commander) Unnamed pilot Three unnamed scientists Pilgrim 2: Daniel Chen Four unnamed astronauts Pilgrim 3: Karie Chen Jonah Brennerman James Krueger Treva Hilgar | "Tribute" (2015), short story | NASA: Phoenix Pilgrim 1 (Mars habitat) Pilgrim 2 Nova Branson Corporation: Pilgrim 3 | c. 2050 |
Deaths of Pilgrim 2 crew end human spaceflight by NASA; Daniel Chen's sister Karie follows him to Mars on privately funded mission. Karie Chen previously commanded Phoenix mission to asteroid placed in lunar orbit. Krueger and Hilgar are former NASA astronauts. [215] | |||
Zephyr: William D. Stanaforth, Capt. Boreas: Emily Maddox, Capt. Endurance: Worsley (Captain) Greenstreet (no first names given) | Approaching the Unknown (2016), film | Romulus Mission: Zephyr Boreas Endurance (space station) | Near Future |
Astronauts on one-way trip to Mars in separate spacecraft. [216] [217] | |||
European Space Programme: Angelo Chavez (US) Marlon Habila, Dr. (Nigeria) New Dawn: Toby Soyinka (Second communications officer) (UK) Unnamed astronauts Second Wind: Vinnie Cameron Zhanna Sorokina Ken Toh Jocelyn Tooker | The Art of Space Travel (2016), novelette | European Space Programme: New Dawn Hoffnung 3 (space station) Second Wind | 2047 c. 2077 |
New Dawn, launched for Mars in June 2047, exploded, killing its crew. Thirty years later, Second Wind crew prepares for second attempted Mars mission. [218] | |||
Eli Cologne | First Man on Mars (2016), film | Cologne Space Labs | October 23, 2003 – 2005 |
Billionaire Cologne returns from self-funded Mars mission as monster and terrorizes Louisiana bayou. | |||
Daedalus: Ben Sawyer (Mission Commander/Systems Engineer) (United States) Hana Seung (Mission Pilot/Systems Engineer) (United States) Marta Kamen, Dr. (Exobiologist/Geologist) (Russia) Robert Foucault, Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineer/Roboticist) (Nigeria) Javier Delgado (Geochemist/Hydrologist) (Spain) Amelie Durand (Mission Physician/Biochemist) (France) Joon Seung (United States) (CAPCOM) (subsequently IMSF Secretary General) Vega: Jane Unnamed personnel Cygnus: Unnamed pilot Leslie Richardson, Dr. (Phase Two director/nuclear physicist) Paul J. Richardson, Dr. (Ethnobotanist) Oliver Lee Ava Macon Unnamed personnel Arrival ship unspecified: Sam Nick Jake Alex Victor Gout Golokov Wilkes Garmash Turtle Solet | Mars (2016–2018), TV | International Mars Science Foundation (IMSF)/Mars Mission Corporation (MMC): Daedalus Vega Cygnus Olympus Town (settlement) | 2033 – 2037 |
Mission to establish first colony on Mars. Initial landing by Daedalus in Valles Marineris in 2033. Sawyer and Seung are NASA veterans. [219] [220] | |||
Mars II: Four unnamed astronauts Mars IV: Julie Lafarge (France) (Astrophysicist/Pilot) Eliott Frank Lisa (no last names given for last three) | Mars IV (2016), short film | United Nations Space Agency (U.N.S.A): Mars II Mars IV: Rocketship X-M | 2047 2053 |
Mars II crew fell into comas due to "the Red", a psychological condition, and were sent back to Earth. Six years later, with less than a week to go in their mission, Mars IV crew discover valuable gold deposit and begin hallucinating. | |||
Achilles: Lee Maynard, Lt Col. (Commander) Emma Grant Ares 5: Francois (no last names given) [lower-alpha 22] Shiela (no last names given) [lower-alpha 23] 4 unnamed astronauts | "Steel Eye" (2016), short story | Ares Program: Ares 4 [lower-alpha 24] Achilles Ares 5 Equinox (Mars habitat) | Near Future |
NASA astronauts on the first human orbital mission to Mars, who find themselves faced with an agonizing choice when the engine that was supposed to allow their return to Earth fails. [221] | |||
Theresa Clarke, Capt. (Canada) (Commander) Dominique Henry, Dr. (OG-GYN) (United States) Li Rong, Dr. (China) (Planetologist) Laima Miškinis (Lithuania) Renata Romero (Mexico) Seven unnamed astronauts Aloysius Koch | Women Are from Mars (2016), web series | The SisterShip Mars Colonizing Mission: Deja Thoris[ sic ] | Near Future ("Stardate 7.3") |
12-woman crew (six scientists, six civilians) on one-way trip to colonize Mars. Clarke is an experienced astronaut. [222] | |||
Dave Nicholson (Chief Commander) Unnamed astronauts | Black Holes: How Embarrassing To Be Human (2017), short film | NASA: Mars Premium | Contemporary/Near Future [lower-alpha 25] |
Nicholson and sentient seedless melon are slated to fly first human Mars mission. Proof of concept for TV series. [223] | |||
Kate Winship (Geologist) Ryan Svetlana Dave (no last names given) Two unnamed astronauts | "Feldspar" (2017), short story | NASA: Eos | Future |
First human landing on Mars; Eos Base Camp established in mouth of Valles Marineris. Winship is injured near mouth of Maja Vallas on excursion to Chryse Planitia; Earth-based rover operator comes to her aid, guiding her to shelter near Dromore crater. [224] | |||
Adam Hummingbird Freager, Col. | Great Planes of World War 3: Prologue (2017), short film | Ares One | Future |
Sole survivor of Mars landing is stranded on Mars when Earth is destroyed by nuclear war and asteroid impact. | |||
Robert Liu, Dr. (CNSA) (Mission Commander/Chemical Engineer) Namusisi "Sissy" Biira, Dr. (African Space Research Program [ASRP]) (Astrosociologist/Psychiatrist) Lucien Pascal Gans, [lower-alpha 26] Dr. (ESA) (Biochemist/Physician) Elvis Price Johnson, Dr. (Google Space Initiative [GSI]) (Computers and Communications) Kathryn "Kat" Voss, Dr. (NASA) (Astrophysicist/Climatologist) | One Under the Sun (2017), film | Samsara Mission | c. 2039 |
Voss is lone survivor of international Mars mission after spacecraft is destroyed by missile during reentry. [225] | |||
Four unnamed astronauts | Others Will Follow (2017), short film | NASA | Early 2000s |
Spacecraft breaks apart on approach to Mars, leaving only one survivor. [226] | |||
Jason Webber (Commander) Maschio Salvatore (1st Officer) Gordon Spark, Dr. Alexander Chen, Tech Sgt. | VanLadyLove: Mars: A Musical Odyssey (2017), music video | VLL (United States) | Future |
Musician crew of Mars mission space dive to Martian surface. Music video for end credit song from Magellan (2017). | |||
MarsNOW: Sergei Kuznetzov (Russia) (Co-Commander) Helen Kane (US) (Co-Commander) Yoshihiro "Yoshi" Tanaka (JAXA) (Co-Commander) Backup crew: Dev Patek (US) Nora (US) Ty (US) (no last names given for last two) Weilai 3: Yu Chen Meifeng Guo He Liu Mingli Sheng | The Wanderers (2017), novel | Prime Space MarsNOW: Eidolon (mission simulation) Primitus (Earth-to-Mars vehicle) Red Dawn (Earth Return Vehicle) Red Dawn II (contingency ERV) CNSA: Weilai 3 | Near Future |
Astronauts undertake 17-month simulated Mars mission for private company; simulated landing near Arsia Mons. Meanwhile, Weilai 3 crew die in cockpit fire on way to Moon. All three members of MarsNOW prime crew are ISS veterans; Tanaka and former ISS commander Kuznetzov are NEEMO veterans. Former NASA astronaut Kane flew with cosmonaut named Yusef on her second ISS mission. [227] | |||
Genesis One: William O'Connor, [lower-alpha 27] Col. (CDR) Raymond Jackson, Capt. (USAF) Samantha "Sammy" Strickland (First Commander) Ben "Benny" Brooks, Lt. Emma "Ems" Hudson, Chief (USAF) (Engineer) Kôji "Shiro" Yushiro, Dr. (Physician) | Another Plan from Outer Space (aka The Doomed) (2018), film | NASA/U.S. Space Fleet Genesis One (Space Shuttle) Mars colony | 2024 July 7–8, 1947 |
Astronauts returning from bringing colonists to Mars crash-land on Earth. [228] [229] | |||
Aleksandr Chapaev (Russia) (Commander) Two unnamed astronauts | Forsaken (a.k.a. Forsaken: Mission Mars, Mission Mars, Stranded On Mars) (2018), film | International Mars Mission | Near Future |
First human mission to Mars fails due to a severe dust storm; Chapaev saves his crew but crashes on landing, stranded on Mars. Pilot/second-in-command is Maksim Surayev. | |||
Molly Jennis | Spaceman (2018), play | United States | Near Future |
Astronaut on solo, corporate-sponsored mission to Mars. [230] [231] | |||
Jake Wilson (Commander) Jill Valentine Four unnamed crewmembers | 2036 Origin Unknown (2018), film | United States Planetary Corporation (U.S.P.C.): Martian One | 2030 2036 |
Six years after Wilson's death in spacecraft crash on Mars, his daughter and an advanced AI attempt to unravel a mystery. [232] | |||
Unnamed astronaut | Eleven (2019), short film | NASA | Near Future |
Astronaut leaving on six-year solo mission to Mars says goodbye to his five-year-old daughter. | |||
Orion/Mars mission: Three unnamed astronauts DSG: Two unnamed astronauts | Rendezvous with Mars (2019), short film | NASA: Orion/Space Launch System DSG Mars mission | Near Future |
Young girl from Bombay grows up to fly to Mars. [233] | |||
Macgregor Red Team Three: Charlie Shaw (Commander) Lewis Staples (Pilot/Number two) Samantha Ransom (Number three) Mathias DeClerk (Number four) James Weston (Number five) | Thalamos (2019), short film | ISEA Zubrin Research Station (ZRS): M.A.R.S. III (Red Team Three) | Near Future |
Shaw becomes separated from his crew 182 days into 18-month stay on Zubrin Research Station in Mars orbit. Macgregor was a member of the previous ZRS crew. | |||
Alexa Brandt (Commander) Casey Donlin (Pilot) Rei Tanaka (Flight Engineer) Katherine Langford (Flight Surgeon) Jerry Pierson (Mission Specialist) | The Twilight Zone Six Degrees of Freedom (2019), web series episode | United States (NASA): Bradbury Heavy Mission | Near Future |
The crew of a spacecraft, led by Alexa Brandt, decide to head for the planet Mars after a nuclear war breaks out on Earth. The crew members soon begin to turn on one another, in spite of Brandt's attempts to convince them to come together under times of stress. However, she too begins to break, devastating fellow crew member Katherine Langford. One crewman, Jerry Pierson, goes crazy and starts rambling that they are being watched, but the other crewmen do not believe him. Later on, he is seemingly killed just as the crew successfully land on Mars. It is later revealed that Jerry had been taken away by aliens and that he was correct: aliens have been monitoring the crew trying to determine if they are worth saving and if humanity were better off if his ideas were to happen. | |||
Miller (Commander) (no first name given) Billy (Co-pilot) (no last name given) | The Edge (2020), short film | NASA: Edge-124 | 2050 |
First two astronauts to fly to Mars; meteoroid impact causes them to crash on distant planet. Launch on April 12, 2050. [234] |
Hard science fiction is a category of science fiction characterized by concern for scientific accuracy and logic. The term was first used in print in 1957 by P. Schuyler Miller in a review of John W. Campbell's Islands of Space in the November issue of Astounding Science Fiction. The complementary term soft science fiction, formed by analogy to the popular distinction between the "hard" (natural) and "soft" (social) sciences, first appeared in the late 1970s. Though there are examples generally considered as "hard" science fiction such as Isaac Asimov's Foundation series, built on mathematical sociology, science fiction critic Gary Westfahl argues that while neither term is part of a rigorous taxonomy, they are approximate ways of characterizing stories that reviewers and commentators have found useful.
Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun, has appeared as a setting in works of fiction since at least the mid-1600s. Trends in the planet's portrayal have largely been influenced by advances in planetary science. It became the most popular celestial object in fiction in the late 1800s, when it became clear that there was no life on the Moon. The predominant genre depicting Mars at the time was utopian fiction. Around the same time, the mistaken belief that there are canals on Mars emerged and made its way into fiction, popularized by Percival Lowell's speculations of an ancient civilization having constructed them. The War of the Worlds, H. G. Wells's novel about an alien invasion of Earth by sinister Martians, was published in 1897 and went on to have a major influence on the science fiction genre.
The Hound of the Baskervilles is a 2002 television adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1902 novel of the same name.
Sharon Lee is an American science fiction, fantasy and mystery author who lived in Winslow, Maine from 1988-2018 before moving to nearby Waterville. She is the co-author of the Liaden universe novels and stories, as well as other works, and individually the author of several mystery and fantasy novels.
Gary Wesley Westfahl is an American writer and scholar of science fiction. He has written reviews for the Los Angeles Times, The Internet Review of Science Fiction and Locus Online. He worked at the University of California, Riverside until 2011 and is now a Professor Emeritus at the University of La Verne.
Mission Mars is a 1967 American science fiction film. It was produced by Everett Rosenthal, with a screenplay by Mike St. Clair from a story by Aubrey Wisberg, and directed by Nick Webster.