Atmosphere Character Analysis

Joan

Joan is Vanessa’s romantic partner, Frances’s aunt, and Barbara’s sister. Joan is the novel’s protagonist, and she is also close friends with Donna, Lydia, Griff, and Hank. At… read analysis of Joan

Vanessa

Vanessa is Joan’s romantic partner. The two initially meet when they are astronaut candidates in the same cohort. Vanessa is instrumental in helping Joan become the best version of herself and, in particular, helps… read analysis of Vanessa

Barbara

Barbara is Joan’s sister and Frances’s mother. Midway through the novel, Barbara then marries Daniel. Barbara gave birth to Frances when she was in college, and Joan has always been a significant… read analysis of Barbara

Frances

Frances is Joan’s niece and Barbara’s daughter. When Barbara marries Daniel, Frances becomes Daniel’s stepdaughter. The novel portrays Frances as a precocious child who begins to act out as a result of… read analysis of Frances

Griff

Griff is an astronaut candidate in Joan and Vanessa’s cohort. Griff develops romantic feelings for Joan, but Joan rebuffs those feelings because she is not attracted to men. In response, Griff assures Joan that… read analysis of Griff

Lydia

Lydia is one of the astronaut candidates in Joan and Vanessa’s cohort. Along with Vanessa, she is one of the sole survivors of the December 29, 1984, space mission. Lydia is standoffish and has… read analysis of Lydia

Antonio

Antonio is the director of flight at the Astronaut Office and functions as Joan’s supervisor during astronaut training and after she becomes an astronaut. After Joan goes to space and asks to transfer permanently… read analysis of Antonio

Daniel

Daniel is Barbara’s husband, whom she marries during the novel and who then becomes Frances’s stepfather. After that marriage, Joan learns that Daniel told Barbara that he never wanted children, which infuriates Joan… read analysis of Daniel

Minor Characters

Donna

Donna marries Hank midway through the novel. Donna, Joan, and Vanessa are also close friends. Near the end of the novel, Joan senses that Donna knows that Joan and Vanessa are in a relationship. Joan is grateful that she feels safe with Donna knowing that information.

Hank

Hank marries Donna midway through the novel. He is a military pilot who becomes a NASA pilot. Joan likes Hank because Hank treats everyone equally, regardless of their gender, and he takes pains to ensure that Joan gets the flight training she needs.

Jimmy

Jimmy is an astronaut candidate in Joan’s cohort. He frequently makes sexist and misogynistic “jokes” as well as homophobic comments.

Steve

Steve is the commander on the December 29, 1984, space mission when there is a malfunction that kills everyone on board except for Vanessa and Lydia.

Jack

Jack is Joan’s boss when she works as CAPCOM (the person in charge of communicating with astronauts in space) at NASA Mission Control in Houston.

Atmosphere Characters