Mindy Park

Lore & Background

Mindy Park works as a NASA satellite planner at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. After the Ares III crew evacuates Mars during a severe dust storm, leaving astronaut Mark Watney presumed dead, Park reviews recorded satellite images of the Martian surface. She notices activity that suggests Watney may be alive. Park reports her findings to NASA director Teddy Sanders, who then releases the news to the public. The Media Action Network for Asian-Americans (MANAA) criticized the casting of white actress Mackenzie Davis as Mindy Park, whom the organization said author Andy Weir had described as Korean-American. Weir responded in October 2015 that he perceived Mindy Park as Korean but said he did not explicitly write her as Korean in the novel.

In Their Own Story

In a quiet room at JPL, Mindy Park studies satellite images of Mars. The images show movement near the Hab where the Ares III crew had been stationed. She realizes the astronaut presumed dead is still alive. Her discovery triggers a global effort to bring Mark Watney home.

Reader's Guide

Mindy Park is a satellite planner at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She appears after the Ares III crew evacuates Mars, when she reviews satellite images and spots evidence of Watney's survival. Her role is limited to this initial discovery; the source does not describe her further involvement in the rescue mission. The character was portrayed by actress Mackenzie Davis, whose casting was criticized by MANAA for not matching the Korean-American identity they attributed to the character in the novel.

Did You Know?

• Mindy Park is a satellite planner at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
• She is the first person to notice Mark Watney is alive, spotting activity in satellite images of Mars.
• The Media Action Network for Asian-Americans criticized the casting of white actress Mackenzie Davis as Mindy Park, saying author Andy Weir had described the character as Korean-American.
• Andy Weir said in October 2015 he perceived Mindy Park as Korean but did not explicitly write her as Korean in the novel.
• Mackenzie Davis's scenes as Mindy Park were included in the final cut of the film.