LOG ENTRY: SOL 198 (May 27, 2036) I’ve had a breakthrough with the Oxygenator! I spent most of the day looking at the specs. It heats CO2 to 900C, then passes it over a zirconia electrolysis cell to yank the carbon atoms off. Heating the gas is what takes most of the energy. Why is that important? Because I’m just one guy and the Oxygenator was made for six. 1/6th the quantity of CO2 means 1/6th the energy to heat…

Chapter 18 LOG ENTRY: SOL 197 (May 26, 2036) Sigh… Just once I’d like something to go to plan, ya know? Mars keeps trying to kill me. Well… Mars didn’t electrocute Pathfinder. So I’ll amend that: Mars and my stupidity keep trying to kill me. Ok, enough self-pity. I’m not doomed. Things will be just be harder than planned. I have all I need to survive. And Hermes is still on the way. I spelled out a Morse Code message…

LOG ENTRY: SOL 196 (May 25, 2036) I fucked up. I fucked up big time. I made a mistake that might kill me. I started my EVA around 08:45, same as always. I got my hammer and screwdriver and started chipping the trailer’s hull. It’s a pain in the ass to make a chip before each drilling, so I make all the day’s chips in a single go. After chipping out 150 divots (hey, I’m an optimist), I got to…

LOG ENTRY: SOL 195 (May 24, 2036) Another day, another bunch of holes. 145 this time (I’m getting better.) I’m half-way done. This is getting really old. But at least I have encouraging messages from Venkat to cheer me on! [17:12] Watney: 145 holes today. 357 total. [17:31] JPL: We thought you’d have more done by now. Dick. Anyway, I’m still bored at night. I guess that’s a good thing. Nothing’s wrong with the Hab, there’s a plan to save…

LOG ENTRY: SOL 194 (May 23, 2036) I average a hole every 3.5 minutes. That includes the occasional breather to let the drill cool off. I learned this by spending all damn day drilling. After 8 hours of dull, physically intense work, I had 137 holes to show for it. It turned out to be easy to deal with places I couldn’t reach. I didn’t need to modify a landing strut after all. I just had to get something to…

LOG ENTRY: SOL 193 (May 22, 2036) I managed to not kill myself today, even though I was working with high voltage. Well, it’s not as exciting as all that. I disconnected the line before I fucked with it. As instructed, I turned a rover charging cable into a drill power source. Getting the voltage was a simple matter of adding resistors, which my electronics kit has in abundance. I had to make my own 9 Amp breaker. I strung…

Chapter 17 LOG ENTRY: SOL 192 (May 21, 2036) Holy shit! They’re coming back for me! I don’t even know how to react. I’m choked up! And I’ve got a shitload of work to do before I catch that bus home. They can’t orbit. If I’m not in space when they pass by, all they can do is wave. I have to get to Ares-4’s MAV. Even NASA accepts that. And when the nannies at NASA recommend a 3200km overland…

May 20, 2036 (Sol 191) Everyone knew Brendan Hutch would be running missions soon. He rose through the ranks as fast as one could in the large, inertia-bound organization. Known as a diligent worker, his skill and leadership qualities were plain to all his subordinates. Brendan was in charge of Mission Control from 1am to 9am every night. Continued excellent performance in this role would certainly net him a promotion. It was already announced he’d be back-up Flight Controller for…

May 18, 2036 (Sol 189) Lewis: Hi, Commander. Between training and our trip to Mars, I spent 2 years working with you. I think I know you pretty well. So I’m guessing you blame yourself for my situation. Don’t. You were faced with an impossible scenario and made a tough decision. That’s what Commanders do. And your decision was right. If you’d waited any longer, the MAV would have tipped. I’m sure you’ve run through all the possible outcomes in…

May 16, 2036 (Sol 187) Beck: Hey, man. How ya been? Now that I’m in a “dire situation,” I don’t have to follow social rules anymore. I can be honest with everyone. Bearing that in mind, I have to say… dude…you need to tell Johanssen how you feel. If you don’t, you’ll regret it forever. I won’t lie: It could end badly. I have no idea what she thinks of you. Or of anything. She’s weird. But wait till the…