The Martian Characters

The only non-American member of the Ares 3 crew, Vogel is a German representing the EU on the mission. He is also the mission’s official chemist.

Beck is the Ares 3 crew’s resident doctor, biologist, and EVA specialist. During the fly-by, it is his responsibility to leave Hermes, reach Watney, and bring him back to the ship. During the mission, he and Johanssen fall in love.

Venkat is the Director of Mars Operations and one of NASA’s top managers. He tends to support Teddy’s decisions. While he initially underestimates Mindy’s abilities as a scientist, he also promotes her and advocates for her in front of other NASA managers.

Chuck works on radio communications at NASA. He is a colleague of Morris.

Morris works with Chuck on radio communications at NASA.

CNN reporter and host of the Mark Watney Report, a daily half-hour special covering Watney and the effort to rescue him.

Director of NASA’s JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) in Los Angeles.

Director of Satellite Control and Mindy’s boss.

A US Postal Service official, Washington is interviewed by Cathy Warner on The Mark Watney Report about the discontinuation of Mark Watney commemorative stamps.

Tim runs the communications console at the Pathfinder control center at JPL.

Reporter for NBC news.

Reporter for BBC.

A software engineer at NASA, Jack finds a way to implement code that allows Pathfinder and Watney’s rover to “talk” to each other, which significantly improves the efficiency of communications between Watney and NASA.

The US president calls NASA managers several times.

An astrodynamist at NASA, Purnell independently develops the risky Rich Purnell Maneuver, which allows the Hermes ship to change course and rescue Watney in a “fly-by” before returning to Earth with all six members of the Ares 3 crew.

Rich Purnell’s boss, Mike works in NASA’s astrodynamics department.

Maurice was scheduled to be the pad leader for the EagleEye 3 mission. When NASA decides to use the EagleEye 3 booster for the Iris probe, Maurice becomes the pad leader for the Iris launch.

A NASA nutritionist who advises top management on Watney’s food supply, particularly on his risks of starvation and malnutrition.

Director of the China National Space Administration. Guo is just as frustrated by the CNSA’s bureaucratic procedures as Watney is with NASA’s.

Under Director of the China National Space Administration.

An up-and-comer at NASA, Hutch is in charge of Mission Control from 1am to 9am. He is the first person on Earth to learn of the Hermes mutiny.

Commander Lewis’ husband. Robert shares his wife’s love of disco and 1970s pop culture.

A CNSA employee, Su serves as Teddy and Venkat’s guide and translator while they are in China.

Vogel’s wife, a teacher at a grammar school in Bremen.

Vogel and Helena’s daughter.

Vogel and Helena’s son.

Though she does not appear in the novel, Vogel and Helena reference her in conversation.

Beck’s sister.

Martinez’s wife. She and Martinez have known each other since they were fifteen.

Martinez’s son.

Johanssen’s father works as the district sales manager of a napkin factory. He’s both incredibly proud of his daughter, and incredibly worried about her.

Johanssen’s mother never appears in the book, but according to her husband (Johanssen’s father) her worries over her daughter’s life and safety are having a strong negative effect on her own mental health and quality of life.

Martian meteorologist at NASA.

Watney doesn’t reveal much about his father, except that he made him shovel snow as a kid, and that he drove really slowly on the freeway. He lives in Chicago with Watney’s mother.