The Martian

by

Andy Weir

A low-level employee who processes Satellite images at NASA Satellite Control (Sat Con), Mindy is the first person on Earth to realize that Watney is still alive. She quickly becomes involved in conversations with upper-level NASA officials on how to track Watney’s progress, make contact with him, and eventually rescue him.
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Mindy Park Character Timeline in The Martian

The timeline below shows where the character Mindy Park appears in The Martian. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 6
Science, Human Ingenuity, and the Fight to Survive Theme Icon
Bureaucracy vs. Human Endeavour Theme Icon
The scene shifts to Mindy Park, a junior staffer with a master’s degree in engineering, who is working the night... (full context)
Science, Human Ingenuity, and the Fight to Survive Theme Icon
The Media Theme Icon
...that Watney is still alive. Annie knows this will be a PR nightmare. Venkat explains Mindy’s findings, including images showing that the MAV fuel plants have been removed—something Commander Lewis would... (full context)
Chapter 8
Bureaucracy vs. Human Endeavour Theme Icon
...shifts again, and the narrator uses a third person limited point of view that follows Mindy’s thoughts. She’s in a meeting with NASA’s top management, including Teddy, Venkat, Annie, JPL director... (full context)
Science, Human Ingenuity, and the Fight to Survive Theme Icon
...MDV to rescue Watney and then fly to the Ares 4 MAV site. Teddy asks Mindy to adjust satellite trajectories to improve imagery of the Ares 3 site. (full context)
Science, Human Ingenuity, and the Fight to Survive Theme Icon
...writing a letter to ask a congressman to support emergency funding to help rescue Watney. Mindy knocks at the door. Venkat notes to himself that her outfit isn’t very put-together—she must... (full context)
Science, Human Ingenuity, and the Fight to Survive Theme Icon
Solitude and the Human Need for Connection Theme Icon
Soon after the call, Mindy notifies Venkat that Watney is continuing his trip. As they examine his coordinates, Venkat realizes... (full context)
Chapter 21
Science, Human Ingenuity, and the Fight to Survive Theme Icon
Bureaucracy vs. Human Endeavour Theme Icon
The Media Theme Icon
...the things he most needs in the rover. Weir cuts to NASA, where Venkat tells Mindy that she is to focus solely on watching Watney—other people will do the satellite course... (full context)
Science, Human Ingenuity, and the Fight to Survive Theme Icon
Bureaucracy vs. Human Endeavour Theme Icon
The Betrayal of the Familiar Theme Icon
At NASA, Teddy, Venkat, Mitch, Annie, Mindy, and Martian meteorologist Randall Carter meet. Mindy explains that Watney has modified the rover and... (full context)
Chapter 22
Science, Human Ingenuity, and the Fight to Survive Theme Icon
The Betrayal of the Familiar Theme Icon
...He calculates longitude based on the time of day that Phobos sets. Back at NASA, Mindy reads Watney’s most recent Morse code status message and emails it out, noting “five days... (full context)
Science, Human Ingenuity, and the Fight to Survive Theme Icon
The Betrayal of the Familiar Theme Icon
...that gets thicker closer to Schiaparelli. He’ll have to go around it. Back on Earth, Mindy gets a Morse code message from Watney: DUST STORM. MAKING PLAN. (full context)
Chapter 24
Science, Human Ingenuity, and the Fight to Survive Theme Icon
Back at NASA, Mitch, Mindy, Venkat, and Bruce examine satellite images of the crash for any sign that Watney is... (full context)
Science, Human Ingenuity, and the Fight to Survive Theme Icon
Back on Earth, Mindy informs Mitch, Bruce, Venkat, and Annie that Watney’s Morse code message indicates he’s fixed everything.... (full context)