Eli Razer’s Reviews > The Martian > Status Update

It surprised me when Johanssen told her dad about how she'd survive with limited food: "'With a reduced diet I could stretch it to nine.' ... 'The supplies wouldn't be the only source of food,' she said" (Weir 253). She's hinting at the fact that after her crew dies, she'll eat them to survive until she's home once her actual food runs out. It is the plan in case something goes wrong.

Just recently, Hermes is forcing NASA to play along with the plan to get Mark back: "She knew right then no one's mind would change. They were going back to Mars" (Weir 212). NASA didn't want to risk six lives to save Mark, but the crew was willing to do it for Mark. This is super exciting because even though the crew has 533 days added on to space living time, they're going back to save Mark Watney from Mars.

Something that I found funny was how NASA responded to Mark being independent: "Me: 'I took it apart, found the problem, and fixed it.' NASA: 'Dick.'" (Weir 154). This took me by surprise because the problem with the water reclaimer was life-threatening, yet when Mark solved it, NASA was rude to him. The rudeness was due to Mark not listening to what NASA was telling him to do and It was just a funny moment.