Factual error: Contrary to popular belief, a person won't freeze immediately in outer space, as depicted in the movie. Space may be cold, but it's also a great insulator and the biggest problem for astronauts is dissipating the heat generated in their bodies.
Factual error: Slingshotting around Mercury as the Icarus does wouldn't work. It may seem counter intuitive, but getting to the sun is actually really hard, as you have to cancel out the earth's orbital speed around the sun (which is about 30 km/s). Now, assuming this is possible, if they would then get caught in Mercury's orbit, they would have to decelerate all over again, only because Mercury is moving much faster than Earth, it's much harder (about 48 km/s). This would make it a needless detour that would only cost massive amounts of fuel, making it entirely pointless.
Factual error: The entire crew gathers to the viewing deck to watch Mercury traverse the Sun across their field of vision, which only takes several seconds. At the speed it's going, it would make a full orbit around the sun in less than an hour. Mercury's actual revolution period is about 88 Earth days, so from that distance you wouldn't see it move at all.
Answer: Actually, there is a perfectly logical explanation for Pinbacker being on the Icarus II: he went through the airlock while the team was searching the ship and sabotaged the connection from there.
Friso94
Wouldn't the Icarus II immediately sense his presence though? As soon as Capa and Mace reach the airlock, the ship acknowledges that they are there.
Phaneron ★