Log entry Sol 412

Yay… more questions to answer… was the sarcasm clear enough in that? If not, now you know. At least these did come from kids this time, so it's not as big a deal. I'm going to do my best to keep these answers short, but we'll see how that goes. I also have to make sure they're school-appropriate, something I haven't had to worry about in a long time. Annie drilled it into my brain like she did every other astronaut though so I'll just watch my language. Not that we didn't know before, but while many of us tend to cuss in our personal lives, we don't do it at work. Yeah, I know some of my logs were bad, but hey, at the time I wrote those I was stranded and no one knew I was alive and I didn't know if I'd die here so...yeah.

I don't mind answering questions for kids. Visiting schools during my week in the barrel was always one of my favorite things to do. Good old week in the barrel. That goes back to early NASA when an astronaut spends a week doing publicity stuff. It's awesome to see kids get excited and maybe inspire the next generation of astronauts, maybe even the kids who will one day be colonists on Mars or the Moon.

If I answer even just a few a day it gives me something else to do with my time for a while. It may seem strange to type them here and not just in an email but I know the logs get backed up regularly and are being sent to Earth at least once a week so if I type them here first, I know Annie will get them in case something goes wrong with the email or I forget to email them. Besides I am not doing them all at once, that would take too long.

I could just upload my logs and let Annie or whoever take the answers from there. They're going to read the logs anyway. It would make it easier for me. Then again, I should probably make it easier on Annie. I'll keep sending emails with my answers.

Do you blame anyone for what happened?

No, there's nothing anyone could have done to change what happened. Well, there was but it would have had to take an imagination none of us had. No one realized a storm on Mars could be that bad, if we had, the MAV would have been anchored in some way so we wouldn't have had to abort the mission, to begin with. The comms array would also have been better anchored. These are all things that we can consider for the next mission and all future missions. There have been four major accidents in the history of NASA. Two were failures of imagination, mine being one of them.

You have to understand there are rooms full of people whose only job is to come up with every possible thing that might go wrong. We practice scenarios, over and over. Still, there are things we just don't think of. We practiced so many different things that could go wrong. I don't even remember them all. None of them were about leaving someone on Mars alive, it's just never something we ever dreamed could happen and my crew thought I was dead so I can't blame them. I know it sounds unbelievable to say I don't blame anyone but I don't. I didn't think of those things either so I can't blame anyone else for not thinking of them.

So now that that's out of the way and I'm done with that answer, I'm going to add more for the log that I know someone is going to be reading sooner or later, as I said earlier. Hi Dr. Shields! I'm still not crazy, I promise. I don't blame anyone for thinking I was dead. I don't even blame Sanders for not wanting to splash pictures of my supposedly dead body across the front page for all the world including my parents to see. I am mad as hell though. I mean logically I get it, but realistically I'm the one suffering for it, though so did he. He paid for it with his job so… And yeah, I'm trying to deal with the anger but it's still there. I'm pissed I'm in this position. I'm pissed no one imagined a windstorm of that magnitude. I'm pissed that my crew and parents spent a year thinking I was dead. I'm pissed that I'm farming in my own crap to survive. Eventually, I'll get past it.

If you could have any one thing what would it be?

Just one thing? That's hard to decide. It also depends on whether or not it's a one-time thing or something I would have every day. So hmmm, a one-time thing I'd love to have is a pizza, not just any pizza but some good old Chicago-style deep dish pizza, fully loaded. Something I could use from now until I leave here? That's even harder because there are so many options but I think silly as it may sound to you, I would love to have coffee, enough coffee to drink at least one cup a day from now until I get back to Hermes. I love coffee. I drink it all the time, well I did back home and every day on Hermes. When I realized how long I'd be here on Mars I tried to drink just a cup every few days but it's hard to resist something you love, and I ran out months ago. Now I'm going through the tea and I'm almost out of it. That's saying something too because I've never been a tea drinker, not even iced tea. It's an acquired taste, and I'm acquiring it. The caffeine in it is the reason I keep drinking it.

What is your favorite movie?

Once upon a time, I would have said Apollo 13. It's exciting and shows the best of NASA but now that I'm living in a mission gone wrong I don't think I'd enjoy it as much anymore. I like older movies, well not older to my parents but older to you for sure. Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, not the old musical one where everyone sings, I mean that Willy Wonka is great but the songs are bad and those Oompa Loompas gave me nightmares for days when my parents showed it to me when I was a kid before we saw the Johnny Depp version.

Someone's going to want to know about TV shows right? Well yes, I do love Star Trek, all of them, yes even Discovery that was so maligned when it came out. I haven't watched much TV in years, I've been too busy training to be an astronaut and then for missions and before that in the Peace Corps where there wasn't any TV reception or even internet in most places.

My guilty pleasure though is Dancing With the Stars. I used to sneak in episodes whenever I could or just watch the dances online. Wonder if they'd consider me a star now and let me dance on the show after I get back and readjust to Earth's gravity that is. I can see it now. I'd be kicked off in week one or two. I have two left feet. I have never been a good dancer. I stepped all over my poor prom date's feet junior year. Senior year, I just went with friends to avoid that and I never went to Homecoming. Still, it would be awesome.

What is your favorite book?

Books are great, but I was never a big reader. I enjoyed listening to audiobooks, but sitting down with a book wasn't ever something I chose to do in my free time. I know I know, sorry teachers everywhere. I will say I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of Agatha Christie's books while I've been here on Mars. I also loved The Outsiders when Mr. Copeland made me read it in seventh grade. Language Arts or English was never my favorite class, but that year was good. Mom read me the Harry Potter books when I was a kid. She loves them. They were ok but not my thing. I preferred the Lord of the Rings. I preferred the Lord of the Rings movies. I tried reading the books but man, are they wordy. I have to be honest, I never finished all three books. If I had them now I might. So hey, if someone wants to send me digital versions, I'll take them. That is if they aren't too big to send, which they probably are.

Enough for today. I can copy these over to email and come back to the rest another day.

"We're going to send him a supply probe right?" Beth asked Bruce.

"We are," he affirmed. "We're already building one and plotting the trajectory."

"Good."

"I already have the Lord of the Rings books and movies, along with The Hobbit on a data stick to pack," Bruce informed her. "There's still plenty of room for more movies, music, and books. Just let me know what to add."

"So you saw the Watney Report last night too huh?"

"Who can resist?"

"Not me," Beth answered.

"Were the kids Cathy's idea or Annie's?"

"Pretty sure it was Cathy's idea to have the kids read their questions on air, but having the kids then read out Mark's answers came from Todd."

"Hammond?"

Beth laughed. "Yeah, we were all pretty shocked. He has loads of experience with the press and public though, so it makes sense he'd best know how to reach them."

Bruce nodded. "It was a great idea. I'm tuning in just for that."

"Me too. I'll get you a list of other media to add to the data stick. Thanks, Bruce."

"No problem."

Log entry Sol 415

Back to the questions.

What is your favorite food?

Pizza, Chicago deep-dish style. Supreme, all the meats, all the cheese, and all the veggies. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Guess that answer was obvious after the "what one thing would I want" answer but since they're different questions I'm answering again.

What's your least favorite food?

Growing up I hated broccoli because my mom always made me eat it plain. When I moved into an apartment in college a roommate made it for me with cheese and YUM. Now I'd have to say potatoes. I used to love all kinds: mashed, fried, scalloped, baked, chips (as in the US form), hash browns, and gnocchi. Ok, you get the idea. I loved potatoes but since I've been eating nothing but baked potatoes (yes, and green beans) for months now I don't want to ever eat another one again in any form. They're keeping me alive, and that's great, but I have no salt or pepper anymore, no ketchup, no butter or margarine, nothing to add to them, and plain baked potatoes are BORING! I'm not even sure I want to ever see a potato again and that includes Mr. Potato Head, and he was my favorite toy when I was five.

What are you going to do first when you get back?

Kiss the ground. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. I'm going to climb out of the capsule and kiss the ground and if NASA doesn't let me, then I'll do it as soon as I can. Then I'm going to hug my parents and crewmates, all of them, more than once, every chance I get. Then I'll spend months going around and thanking every single person who helped me stay alive until Ares IV and helped get me home. I'm also going to eat real food again. Gonna have pizza first or a huge bacon cheeseburger with onion rings on the side. You know, as soon as the docs clear me for real food.

Do you believe in God?

Argh, how do I answer this one? Wonder if I can just skip it? I don't want to upset anyone. My parents believe, but I don't. I did when I was a kid, but not anymore. Answering with the truth could be bad, but I don't want to lie. If I say yes I lie. If I say no, I upset the kiddo that asked if they do believe. Then again maybe the kid asked because they don't believe and need to know someone else that doesn't. This single question is a major minefield. Yeah, I'm gonna email Annie and ask for advice about this one before I even try.

What is your favorite sport and who are your favorite sports teams?

Baseball and the Cubs. I'm forever a fan no matter what and I'll shout that from the mountaintops.

What is the best thing that ever happened to you?

Being selected to become an astronaut. I've had other great moments, each of my graduations was awesome, but being selected was the best.

I gotta stop. The water reclaimer is beeping at me again, it must be time to take it apart and clean it.

Annie,

Oh great goddess of public relations and media, how in the hell do I safely answer the question about belief in God without pissing off at least half of the population? Seriously, I don't want to piss anyone off, especially anyone in Congress approving the funding to get me the hell off this rock!

Watney

Watney,

You don't. That one shouldn't have made it to you. I don't know how it got through. Someone screwed up. We have way more questions than we're sending. The kids won't know if theirs was sent or not unless it's answered. Some questions were sent in by several kids so they may not even know then. Just skip it, and thanks for being aware that that's a grenade waiting to go off.

Montrose

Log entry Sol 417

It was time to clean the water reclaimer and I knew that, but now that I'm back in contact with NASA, I had to let them know what I was going to do. Of course, they freaked out. Never mind the fact that I've done it before and it all worked just fine. They see it as a critical survival element, and they're not wrong in that I need water. But I have way more than I need and I can still make more. Yeah, that would make them pee their pants. Anyway, they're freaking out because, to them, equipment failure is terrifying. To me, it's "Tuesday." They keep asking me to try different solutions. I try them and immediately tell them it's just a clog and I can clear it. They tell me, no and we try something else. Finally, I just took it apart and cleared the clog then put it back together. When I let them know I got the ultra-professional version of FU Watney.

What did they expect me to do? Those of us picked for Mars missions were chosen in part because of our ability to be independent thinkers and problem solvers and I've been doing just fine for a year now. I know, I know they have procedures, but procedures led to me still being here so I'm going to keep doing things my way and if they want to fire me they'll have to wait until I get home, and at that point, whatever!

Now back to questions because all that with the water reclaimer took my entire day yesterday.

If a song played every time you walked into a room what would it be?

Right now it would be "I Will Survive," but I've been listening to Commander Lewis's disco music and Johanssen's Beatles collections (ask your parents, kiddies, or maybe your grandparents, or look it up on YouTube) for nearly a year now and I still can't tell you if I love them or hate them, but that one has become kind of my anthem. I know it's all about a breakup and surviving that but it's still about survival and so is my life right now.

What is your dream vacation?

Somewhere with a private beach and fruity drinks with umbrellas in them, but I don't want to be alone. I want other people around, but people I choose. I've had enough of being alone but I also know that when I get back to Earth I'm going to spend loads of time talking to people all over the world and I'll want alone time again, alone with friends and family anyway. I don't know how much I'm ever going to want to be alone again.

Answer done, now, I wonder if I'll be able to be truly alone and be okay with it. I also wonder if I'll ever really be comfortable not being alone. That doesn't leave me a lot of hope for a relationship in the future. I would like to be married again someday. Maybe I should preface every first date with a requirement to go to couples counseling with me. Yeah, maybe not. That might scare women away. Okay, back to the questions.

Do you have any pets?

I had a dog growing up. Well, my parents had one when I was born. Marvin, yes, Marvin the Martian. No, I don't know why, but my dad is a Looney Tunes fan so maybe that was it. Marvin was a mutt and we grew up together. When he died, my parents let me pick out our next dog from the shelter. I named him Collins after Mike Collins and Eileen Collins, both awesome astronauts. I could tell you all about them, but you should probably look them up yourself. Commander Lewis could tell you about Eileen Collins too. She's one of Lewis's heroes.

What are you most afraid of?

Oh boy. This is a loaded question that I have to answer differently for kids than I would for adults so here goes, or maybe not. I think I'll write both answers and let Annie decide. Maybe I'm underestimating kids because I don't have any and don't know any other than Rick's son who's just a toddler.

For the kids - I've always been afraid of heights. I know that sounds strange coming from an astronaut, but you don't feel the height when you're in space. It's not the same thing as on Earth. I can't explain it, but I know other astronauts who are afraid of heights, and they love being in space just like I do. It's not even the height that bothers me. I love flying. I enjoy being in high places and looking out to see how far I can see. What bothers me is looking down, and the possibility no matter how tiny of falling. Maybe, that's why it's different in space.

For the adults? - Dying. It sounds strange even to me to say that, but it's true. You know, never really thought about it before, and when I was hit with the comms array dish, I was sure that was it. Going quickly like that I can deal with. I know everyone wants to know if I've thought about ending it. There is morphine here, enough that I could use it if I wanted. I could also just get into my EVA suit and turn the oxygen off and the nitrogen up. Yes, I've thought about it. Sorry Mom and Dad, I know that hurts to hear. If there were anyone who was in my position who honestly wouldn't think about it, I'd like to meet them. Yes, I've thought about it but never acted on it. I've thought about it because of my fear of dying slowly in pain. Quick and painless is one thing. Slowly starving to death and losing my sanity? That's terrifying. Now that I'm back in contact with NASA, the chances of that happening have decreased.

What's the best thing about space?

Oo that's a tough one. When you first get to space, one of the coolest things is being able to float anywhere, and it stays pretty cool. Seeing Earth from space was the best though. There's a cupola on both ISS2 and Hermes. Best place to be on either for the view.

Who is your hero?

You probably expect me to say some astronaut and there are some amazing ones I consider role models, but a hero, that's different. I think it would have to be my dad. I'd say more but I should ask him for permission first. Love you Dad, and you too Mom!

Why did you go into the Peace Corps?

Again with the kid answer versus the adult answer and again I think I'll go ahead and type out the adult answer just in case Annie needs it at some point and let her decide how to edit it.

For the kids - I wanted a change in my life. I wanted to do something that meant I could make a difference. I had applied to the astronaut program but hadn't yet made the cut. Yes, it took me two tries to make it. The first time I didn't get past the application phase. I sent mine in and got a rejection letter. Some astronauts take three or four tries to get in; it's a good reminder not to give up on your dreams. Anyway, I decided I'd go do something meaningful and I saw information on the Peace Corps. I spent eighteen months in Africa helping local people improve their farms and learning some cool things about their planting routines and traditions. The only help most of them needed was creating irrigation channels so they didn't have to carry water from miles away. Honestly, I learned more from them than they did from me. Never assume you know more than others or assume they can't teach you anything. I went to Africa pretty arrogant and came home much more humble, though I'm sure there are still people who think I'm too arrogant, although I try not to be.

For adults - To be honest, I joined the Peace Corps when I was in a totally low place in my life. I'd been rejected by NASA and when I went home to tell my wife and hopefully have her comfort me I instead found her in bed with the neighbor. I thought going to Africa to help others would make me feel better. It was all about being superior to someone, anyone at that point, as well as getting as far away from that cheating witch, yeah as far away as I could while the divorce attorneys settled things out. Yes, I had more book knowledge about plants than the people I helped but they were doing fine on their own. I used more of my mechanical engineering knowledge than my botany skills as I helped them irrigate. I was taken in and treated like a family member. I finally felt strong enough to go home and try again with NASA while never seeing my ex-wife again. I signed the papers that were sent to me and that was that.

I'm done for the day. Time for a potato dinner, yay… Maybe I'll have some steamed green beans too. Even more yay…

"Annie, you got a second?" Melissa asked, stepping into the office.

"Just a second and that's it."

"Tasha-" Lewis started.

"Nope, no, not a chance. We will not ever release the adult answer to that question. I will under no circumstances give the bitch a chance to try and steal the spotlight again. She'll lie her ass off and claim nothing was happening with the neighbor. No, we don't need that bullshit."

"Thanks, Annie. I had a feeling you wouldn't, but my crew wanted me to check."

"You can reassure them I'd like nothing more than to bury that woman. Humiliating her in the press would make my day, but that just gives her attention and I won't do that."

"Good to know," Lewis replied.

Log entry Sol 418

I think this will be the last day for this round of questions, but I won't be surprised at all if I get more. Someone back on Earth is having way too much fun trying to keep me occupied.

What's your favorite place you've ever visited?

On Earth, Wrigley field. Dad and I have been to dozens of games together and it's always fun.

In space, the cupola of ISS2 or Hermes. I could hang out there all day just looking out. Again an obvious answer. I should do more of these questions at one time so I'm not so repetitive or so I can combine answers to questions. Oh well, someone else can combine them into one answer.

What is a day like on Mars?

Before the evacuation, we would wake up and have breakfast. While we ate, we would review our schedule for the day. Then everyone would clean up and those going out for EVA would suit up and head out. Outside we might be collecting soil samples or rocks or drilling to get core samples. We started close to the Hab and eventually would have gone much further out. We would start with locations we could walk back to on the life support supplies we had in our suits and then take one rover and go up to twenty kilometers away. Only one rover in case something went wrong and then we could use the other to go get the astronauts at the broken rover.

There would be a break for lunch either in the Hab or in a rover and then back to work. Some people were still outside while others came in and worked on analyzing the samples that were collected that day. Then in for dinner. After dinner there would be a little more time for work, then we had personal time that we could spend doing whatever we wanted. Then off to bed.

Now, I get up and have breakfast and check my plants to make sure they have enough water, and look to see if anything needs to be harvested. I used to go out to the rover and sit there for a while talking to NASA checking in with what they wanted me to do. Now I can just walk over to the computer in the Hab. I'm still cheering about that. I also check my emails. Then I peek out the window to see if the solar cells need to be cleaned off. If so, I go out and do that, then I come inside and do whatever NASA needs me to do. Finally, I watch tv, reread an Agatha Christie book, or play solitaire. All in all, my life is pretty boring right now for the most part.

What's your favorite number?

3, yes even though I got stuck on Mars on Ares 3. I was so excited when I was chosen for this crew and part of it was the number. There were three in my family growing up. I think that's where it came from.

What is your favorite color?

It used to be red, but after being here all this time, I'm kinda over it. Orange too because anything here that's not red is either orange or brown. So I guess now it's blue or green. I don't know. I'll have to think about it. On second thought maybe I'll pass on green too, or at least potato plant, green bean, and green bean plant green. I need more color variety in my life.

Who is your best friend?

Rick Martinez and Dr. Christopher Beck at NASA. My best friend growing up was Aaron Michealson (damn cancer to hell and back, obviously cut this out of the final answers. However, if an adult wants to follow up I'll tell them)

What's your favorite Halloween costume?

Someone's planning early. My favorite costume that I wore when I was a kid was when Aaron and I went together as Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner. I was Captain Jack and it was cool except that goofy goatee with the braids made my chin itch. I reacted to the glue. My chin was red and broken out for days. It was annoying but since I got a pillowcase full of candy, it was worth it.

What's your favorite thing on Mars?

I love the Hab because hey, home on another planet, but my favorite thing is the rover. There's nothing like driving an automobile on another planet. It doesn't go very fast but it's still a whole vehicle and not just a dune buggy like the original Moon rovers. The rover also was the reason I was able to go get Pathfinder without it. I would never have been able to do it and I'd still be without contact with Earth and no one would know I was alive.

Who was the best Spiderman: Toby Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Tom Holland, or Peter Mitchell?

Really? What's next, who was the best Batman? Do you want to get me started with a question like this because I could write an entire new doctoral thesis just on the topic of who played it best when it comes to superheroes? There are so many factors to consider. Sorry, not going to pick. I watch all of the movies. They all have good things and eye-roll-worthy things. The only one I won't rewatch in all of the Batman or Spider-man series is Batman and Robin. I just can't. There is so much wrong with that movie. It hurts to watch. If you've never seen it, count yourself lucky and don't, just don't. I mean don't for any reason. Almost every other superhero movie I've ever seen has some redeeming quality but that one? No, just no. Come on bat nipples? Seriously, it's just so bad.

"Martinez, what did you do?" Beck asked the pilot.

"What do you mean? I haven't done anything?"

"Then what's with that shit-eating grin?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about?" Rick said, fighting to keep his mouth straight.

"Oh shit!" Chris exclaimed. "You didn't!"

"Didn't what?"

"You did, didn't you? You big jerk. He's gonna kill you when he gets back."

"Who will be killing Rick?" Vogel asked, coming into the office.

"Mark."

"Mark loves me," the pilot said. "He just listed me as one of his best friends."

"Yeah," Chris replied, "that's gonna change when he gets that data stick."

"What did Martinez do this time?" Lewis sighed from the doorway.

"I didn't do anything," Rick said, continuing to fight to keep a straight face.

"He's lying. Look at his face," Beck pointed to the pilot. "He sent a digital file of Batman and Robin to Bruce to put on the data stick and I'd bet he labeled it with some movie title Mark loves."

Rick bit his lip and stayed still for ten seconds before bursting out laughing. "Avengers."

Vogel shook his head. "That is very bad"

"He's right," Lewis said. "You know better than to mess with Mark's superhero movies."

"Hey, I also sent the actual Avengers movie," Martinez defended himself.

"As Batman and Robin, right?" Chris asked.

"Of course."

"That's nearly diabolical," Beck replied.

"And just enough for me to say let it be," Lewis said. "We'll just tell Bruce to make sure Mark can't delete anything from the stick."

"Really? You're going to let this go?" Beck inquired.

"Sure, once he realizes what's going on, he'll know it was Martinez and we'll all be able to look forward to how he's going to get him back. He'll have years to plan after all." It was Lewis's turn to grin.

"Commander, when you're right, you're right." Chris acknowledged. "And I love this!"

"Hey wait a minute," Rick protested. "This just went… wait, what just… Damn it!"

Log entry Sol 419

Um, I think this question stuff has gone too far now. I thought we were all done and everyone had asked all they could then today Annie sent me one more list. Someone wants to put together a Mark Watney playlist. Can you see me rolling my eyes from wherever you are when you read this? Well, I am and it hurts, dang it. Fine last one Annie. I'm boycotting any further questions until I'm home, or at least safely back in space on the way home.

Playlist of Mark's life (ugh really)

A song that represents your childhood

A song that represents your general outlook on life

A song that would play over a montage of you getting ready in the morning

A song that represents your happiest moment

A song you listen to cheer yourself up

A song that represents a struggle in your life

A song you would dedicate to a loved one

A song that represents a current relationship/love interest

A song that represents a past relationship/love interest

A song that you request a DJ play at a party

A song that represents your saddest moment

A song that would play over a training montage

A song you sing in the shower

Really? They ended at thirteen questions? Well, I guess at least they aren't superstitious. Now to come up with answers for all of them that aren't disco.

We are Family, damn it, disco already. Ummm, nope can't think of another answer right now

I Will Survive, obviously

Stayin' Alive, may as well just go with the disco thing

YMCA, don't ask I have no idea why, it's just the first thing that came to mind

Celebration

Hit the Road Jack, of course, I replace Jack with Tasha but… (you can't cut that part out Annie but it had to be said)

I'll Always Love My Mama, I think that's pretty self-explanatory

One is the Loneliest Number, not sure that's the title of the song but it fits

Last Dance

Oh, this one I know and it's not disco for a change: Cha Cha Slide. When I was just starting school we would do it in P.E. every week, still love it

Love Hangover

You expect me to pick anything other than the Rocky theme song or that one from Karate Kid ummm You're the Best Around, that's it, or Eye of the Tiger or what's the other Rocky one ummm Burning Heart. Yep, one of those.

At this point anything on Lewis's playlist, this morning it was Funkytown

Done! Annie, I'm done! No more questions! Please! At least for a while.

"OK, I have to know whose idea this was?" Annie asked the room full of astronauts at their weekly meeting.

"What was?" came an unidentified male voice.

"The Mark Watney soundtrack Spotify list," she replied.

"Johanssen," Beck answered.

Annie turned to the computer specialist and said, "Beth, you deserve a raise. This was brilliant. Thank you."

"No problem, it was fun. He might not love it though when he finds out."

"Little sister did it, so he'll be fine," Martinez said.

"I have another idea," Beth put in. "This one is for Mark."

She went on to explain what she was thinking and received an exuberant response.

Big bro,

Just a short note, nothing really to say other than be sure to check the attachment.

Lil sis

I'm worried. What did she send me? It's a video file. I swear if it's Batman and Robin I'll build my own damn spaceship so I can go home and have a word with her.

Mark downloaded the video file and hesitantly clicked it open. He then sat for the next three minutes and thirty-six seconds watching his parents, crewmembers, other astronauts, as well as NASA and JPL personnel dance and lip-sync to We Are Family. When it ended he wiped his eyes and pressed play again.