I stumbled up the hill back toward the Hab. As I crested the rise, I saw something that made me very happy and something that made me very sad: The Hab was intact (yay!) and the MAV was gone (boo!).

Problem is (follow me closely here, the science is pretty complicated), if I cut a hole in the Hab, the air won't stay inside anymore.

As with most of life's problems, this one can be solved by a box of pure radiation.

If ruining the only religious icon I have leaves me vulnerable to Martian vampires, I'll have to risk it.

Actually, I was the very lowest ranked member of the crew. I would only be “in command” if I were the only remaining person.”What do you know? I’m in command

How did I end up in this situation? I'm the district sales manager of a napkin factor. Why is my daughter in space?

Turns out even NASA can't improve on duct tape.

I'm so close to Schiaparelli I can taste it. I guess it would taste like sand, mostly, but that's not the point.

It is of course dangerous to set off an explosive device on a spacecraft.

Mars and my own stupidity keep trying to kill me.

Space is dangerous. It's what we do here. If you want to play it safe all the time, go join an insurance company.

Art stands on the shoulders of craft, which means that to get to the art, you must master the craft. If you want to write, practice writing.

Young people recognize the big challenges that are coming up.

I don't think the problem is telling people you're on a diet. The problem is eating ice cream for breakfast.

True disciples are those who go beyond simply believing. They act out their belief.

That's what I need from everybody right now - enjoy life with me.

All of those who inhabit the world have a right to be here by virtue of their being here at all. To be here means you have a right to be here.

I'd actually argue forging a company is far more harder than forging a product

I consider writing practice a true Zen practice because it all comes back at you. You can't fool anyone because it's on the page.

If a little voice in your head is telling you something is up, maybe you should listen.

The New York times' long-standing motto, 'All the News That's Fit to Print,' should be changed to reflect today's reality: 'Manufacturing News to Fit an Ideology.'