The Mars Journey series delves into the science, technology, drive, and determination of the human
spirit to come together to overcome our greatest challenges, explore space, and become the first people
to colonize the Red Planet.
The series is both science realistic based on technology development up to now and projected 10 – 20
years into the future, and action packed (think the Martian meets James Bond).
This Concept Art and Inspiration Guide highlights the real life pioneers, the awe inspiring technology,
and the imagination of the artists that inspire me to write the pages of the Mars Journey series.
The Mars Journey series is a story about the greatest adventure of our time. I
hope you are inspired as much as I am by the images that follow.
Ad Mars et Ultra (To Mars and Beyond),
Bill Hargenrader
Bestselling author of the near-future science fiction thriller series:
Mars Journey: Call to Action
[email protected]
Real Life Pioneers: Inspiration, Bravery, and Courage
Book 1 starts off with American Astronauts Brent Carlson and Calvin Williams engaged in a daring rescue
mission to save the lives of the Pisces commercial space station crew. The real life inspiration for these
two astronauts comes from the pioneering spirits that braved the unknown and pushed human progress
forward. Here are just a few of the images that get me in the right frame of mind to write the Mars
Journey Story.
Edward White Gemini spacewalk
Photo: NASA
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Spacewalk for the crew of the Apollo 9
Photo: NASA
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Buzz Aldrin exiting the Apollo Lunar Module
Photo: NASA
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Mars Journey Cover
The final Mars Journey cover design was determined by a contest where members of the I Love Mars
community on Facebook voted on their favorite option. The dies shows Earth presented prominently in
the foreground to remind us that the Mars Journey starts off here on our home planet. Since we begin
the story seven years from the projected launch date, much of the action takes place on Earth and in
Earth orbit. We have Mars front and center because that’s our objective and our target.
Our journey will take us to Mars one way or another. I can’t make any promises on who the crew will be,
though I can say that it will be six astronauts and six Mars Now contestants.
As the book series takes us closer and closer to Mars, look for the cover art changes to illustrate the
difference in perspective shifts.
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The Wyvern Advanced Spacecraft
3.5Gs of crushing pressure exerted itself on the bodies and organs of the two astronauts geared up in
their orange flight suits locked into takeoff position inside the compact Wyvern spacecraft atop the
rapidly ascending Super-Colossus rocket. These two veterans of space-flight were used to these
conditions. What they were not used to was the dangerous rescue mission they were embarking on—one
that had never been attempted before…
In the series, the Wyvern is the pinnacle of design evolution from the NewSpace Enterprises lead by
billionaire serial entrepreneur Ken Solum.
In real life, these spacecraft, capsules, and vehicles serve as an inspiration for the series.
Artists concept of the Red Dragon by SpaceX
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Interior of the Crew Dragon with Elon Musk. Photo by SpaceX
Panels off view of the Orion. Photo by NASA
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Space Shuttle Discovery. Photo by NASA
Space Shuttle crew working on the Hubble Space Telescope. Photo by NASA
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The Super-Colossus Rocket
In the Mars Journey series, the Super-Colossus is the most powerful rocket in the world. It is owned by
Herr Graden of GradenTech, a global conglomerate. Herr Graden and Ken Solum are bitter rivals in the
series, though no one has actually ever seen Graden… He instead uses his CFO, Vanessa Dorn, to handle
all of his negotiations. Though he remains behind the scenes, his accomplishments in the space and
cybergenetics industry are easily recognizable.
The awe-inspiring Delta IV Rocket Source: U.S. Air Force/Joe Davila
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Artist rendering of the SLS by NASA
Artist Rendering of the Falcon Heavy by SpaceX
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Handy Infographic for size comparisons and reference heights. 117 Meters = 383 Feet.
Reusable Launch Systems
As Elon Musk’s SpaceX is in the process of proving, reusable rockets have the potential to dramatically
reduce the cost of space-based transportation, including the delivery of supplies and people to Mars.
This theme is touched on throughout the Mars Journey series as those corporations that can provide the
lowest costs for space delivery hold the keys to the future of expansion on the Red Planet.
Falcon 9 First stage landing. Photos by SpaceX
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Space Stations
Space stations such as the International Space Station (ISS) and the Mir space station are orbital space
vehicles that provide a platform for science, research, and tourism in space.
The Pisces 3 commercial space station in the Mars Journey series represents the next level of progress in
getting humans to Mars… that is until it stops transmitting, prompting a rescue mission for the
international crew of five.
The ISS. Photo by NASA
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Mir Space Station seen here with two Soyuz Vehicles attached
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International Efforts
Mars Journey addresses the fact that there are members of the human race from every country on Earth
that want to see a human presence on Mars.
Here’s a snippet from Brent Carlson’s rousing speech at the UN in Book 1:
“They say we can’t go to Mars unless there is a space race. A competition to pit ourselves against one
another. I say there is a competition. And that competition is against those who say we can’t do it. It’s
against our past-selves. Our past-selves who committed genocide and slave trading. We are better than
those people, just like we are better than the people who need a space race to make this work. There is
no place for that in our future.
My challenge to you, and you, and you, and my challenge to everyone out there isn’t how to create a
space race, it’s how to get the human race to space, to Mars, and beyond. Will we be better than our
past-selves? Will we repeat the same tragic mistakes? Or will we seize the moment to unite for this, our
greatest cause? It’s up to you to make the decision. That’s really all I have to say. Thank you. Ad Mars et
Ultra.”
China’s Jade Rabbit Moon Rover
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European Space Agency (ESA) HQ in Paris, France.
Spacesuits
Spacesuits have many roles to play, from being a barrier to the vacuum of space during and
extravehicular activity (EVA), to radiation protection, to temperature regulation.
The space suits designed for the Mars Journey series are more form fitting, agility enabling, and look
pretty cool. Here are some of the inspirations for the space suits.
Spacesuit – From the Martian
Photo 20th Century Fox
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Artist’s rendering of an advanced spacesuit
Photo by Dainese
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Robotics
In Mars Journey Book 2, we meet the Strong Arm Mobile Mech (SAMM) (from a collaboration with
NewSpace Enterprises and JPL), and the GradenTech Mars – Humanoid Engineered Robotic Organism
(M-HERO). Robots play an important role in the Mars Journey series, both as a workforce on the red
planet’s surface, as well as companions on the seven month journey. Here are some images of real life
robots that are helping to pave the way to Mars.
Robotics designs. Photos by NASA
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The Journey Spacecraft
“At that, the elevator bay doors opened with an accompanying pneumatic whir, revealing the cavernous
space of the underground Hangar Bay 99. The room was so massive that it took Brent a moment to
realize his eyes weren’t being tricked by an optical illusion. Hundreds of workers moved to and fro, some
in orange body suits and others in biohazard suits. Like bees in a hive, they buzzed back and forth, but all
centered around the queen of the nest, the centerpiece of the room, the nearly completed body of the
Journey I spacecraft.”
The Journey is more than just a title for the book, it’s also the name of the massive spacecraft that will
take our crew to Mars. At over 100 meters long from bow to stern and weighing over 500 tons, the
Journey is a most impressive sight. Artist Douglas Shrock’s rendering serves as an inspiration for the final
design. Douglas Shrock - www.shrox.com
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Artists Visions
The path to Mars lies in our progress on Earth, and there is no shortage of artists that are
enthusiastically creating their visions of life on the red planet today. Here are some of the ones I turn to
time and time again for inspiration.
Art by Drell7 http://drell-7.deviantart.com/
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Art by Drell7 http://drell-7.deviantart.com/
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Mars from Mass Effect
Nikonov Aleksandr http://niconoff.deviantart.com/
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SMPritchard http://smpritchard.deviantart.com/
Tiago da Silva http://grafik.deviantart.com/
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Mars, an inspiration unto itself….
Photo by NASA
What’s Next?
If you can’t tell by now, I love Mars. For me, and so many others, it represents the next steps in human
progress and evolution. It’s our gateway to the stars. It’s how we realize a world like the one that Star
Trek envisions.
That’s why I am writing the Mar journey series. I want to help get us another step closer to the Red
Planet, and have a heck of an action packed adventure doing it. So If you haven’t already, get your free
copy of Mars Journey at http://freemarsbook.com
I’m currently writing a TV pilot screenplay (with an option to make into a movie) so stay tuned…
And while your at it, join over 50,000 Mars scifi and science fans at
http://facebook.com/ilovemarsfans
http://twitter.com/ilovemarsfans
Ad Mars et Ultra,
Bill Hargenrader
Bestselling author of the near-future science fiction thriller series:
Mars Journey: Call to Action
Questions? Feedback? Share a love for Mars and Action packed stories?
Email me: [email protected]
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