Summary

After ten days, Mark arrives at a valley called Mawrth Vallis. The floor of the valley is flat and easy to drive on. Venk is interviewed again by CNN and admits that Mark has a real challenge but isn’t doomed. He acknowledges that the sandstorm will block the sun and that Mark is depending on the solar panels for energy. Mark should hit the storm in about twelve days. The build-up of the storm will be subtle. Mark won’t notice it at first until he realizes he’s running low on power. Mark navigates using his map, a crude sextant he rigged up and by the orbits of Phobos, Mars’ moon and the distant star Deneb in the Cygnus constellation. He spends thirteen hours a day allowing his solar panels to recharge his batteries. The terrain is getting more rugged as...