Abandoning Mark On Mars

Do you believe the crew did the right thing in abandoning the search for Mark? Was there an alternative choice?

I think that the Ares 3 crew did the right thing in abandoning the mission and leaving Mark on Mars. If they would have stayed they faced the threat of all five of them dying instead of just Mark and saving five people for sure is greater than attempting to save one person. Commander Lewis faced the challenge in making this decision and I think that she valued the lives of the rest of her crewmates over the life of only Mark. Mark is not less important than any of the other crew members who are a part of the Ares three mission. It is just that the lives of five safe astronauts is more important than the risk it would have taken to save one more. It is clear that this decision does take an emotional toll on the crew and especially commander Lewis because it was her decision to leave Mark. The crew is relived when they find out that Mark is still alive, and they are willing to do anything to save him. 

Back on earth Teddy Sanders is one of the heads at NASA and he has final say of whether or not the rest of the Ares 3 crew extends their trip and go to save Mark. Throughout the book Teddy plays his decisions safe and is ultimately against wanting the crew to go back to save Mark. He would rather return five astronauts home safely than risk all of their lives to save one. Mitch Henderson views clash with Teddy’s because Mitch wants to communicate with the rest of the crew and organize a plan to go back and save Mark. In the end these two opposing views allow for a solution to be proposed which helps save Mark. Regardless of whether anyone wanted the crew to go back or continue home everyone was happy to see Mark be save.