Contents
Chapter 19
Overview
As Hermes nears its Chinese resupply, crew members speak with loved ones, exposing personal costs and resolve. China’s Taiyang Shen launches and the probe docks flawlessly, securing the mission’s survival. Meanwhile, Johanssen discloses a secret contingency: if the resupply failed, the crew would die so she could survive, underscoring the mission’s stakes.
Summary
On Hermes, Commander Lewis video-chats with her husband Robert, sharing brief normalcy and noting the ship has paused spin in preparation for docking with China’s Taiyang Shen. Their exchange highlights the separation and the crew’s professionalism ahead of the crucial resupply.
In China, Venkat Kapoor and Teddy Sanders arrive exhausted but are whisked through customs by Su Bin of the CNSA. At Jiuquan, Guo Ming hosts them in Mission Control, trading cordialities about the unprecedented U.S.–China cooperation. Mitch reports the probe–booster linkage is solid, while joking tensions persist.
Across parallel calls, Vogel reassures his wife Helena about safety and family; Beck explains his standby EVA role to his sister Amy; and Martinez faces Marissa’s anger and worry over the 533-day extension. The personal costs of the mutiny plan are laid bare.
Venkat appears on CNN to explain why only Taiyang Shen can match Hermes’s velocity and outlines contingency operations: Martinez will remote-pilot the probe, with Beck ready to manually recover or even hand-carry supplies if docking fails.
Taiyang Shen launches perfectly. Zhu Tao, though cooperative, laments sacrificing a hard-won scientific program for a delivery run, even as Venkat notes it saves Watney. Soon after, Hermes executes the approach: Martinez guides the probe in, Johanssen calls ranges and rates, Beck stands EVA-ready, and Vogel is on rescue standby. The auto-capture system latches cleanly; docking is confirmed and the crew begins unloading.
In a private, fraught conversation, Johanssen’s father presses her fears. Johanssen reveals a secret contingency: if the resupply failed, the crew would promptly take lethal pills so she—smallest and most capable for return—could survive on remaining provisions, implying cannibalism if necessary. She asks him to reassure her mother, underscoring the mission’s dire stakes despite the day’s success.
Who Appears
- Melissa LewisHermes commander; prepares for docking, supports crew, and shares a brief, grounding call with her husband.
- Beth JohanssenSystems operator; tracks docking data and privately reveals the crew’s grim contingency to her father.
- Rick MartinezPilot; remotely flies the Taiyang Shen probe to a clean auto-capture and jokes to ease tension.
- Chris BeckEVA specialist; suits up to potentially recover the probe manually, ultimately stands down after successful docking.
- Venkat KapoorMars operations director; coordinates in China, explains mission and contingencies on CNN, celebrates launch success.
- Alex VogelNavigator; on standby as emergency EVA, reassures his wife about safety before docking.
- Teddy SandersNASA administrator; travels to China to oversee the resupply operation and liaise with CNSA leaders.
- Zhu TaoCNSA leader for Taiyang Shen; proud yet regretful that the booster’s legacy shifts from science to logistics.
- Guo MingCNSA official at Jiuquan; hosts NASA delegation and highlights cooperative spirit.
- Su Bin BaoCNSA guide/translator; expedites NASA officials through customs and facilitates their visit.
- Mitch HendersonFlight director; confirms hardware readiness and monitors docking from Jiuquan.
- Robert LewisCommander Lewis’s husband; shares a supportive, lighthearted call before docking.
- Johanssen’s fatherAnxious parent; presses Beth to admit the survival contingency plan.
- Marissa MartinezMartinez’s wife; angry and worried about the prolonged mission and family strain.
- Amy BeckBeck’s sister; questions his EVA risks and crew roles.
- Helena VogelVogel’s wife; shares family updates and concerns about his safety.
- Cathy WarnerCNN host; interviews Venkat about the Taiyang Shen resupply and contingencies.