P2K: When you come into work in the morning does it feel like "fun," or does it feel like work"?

Pete Theisinger: This is the best job in the world, right now. This is... You can't... it's impossible to describe how good it feels to work on something like this. The challenge is very high. The psychic return when it is successful will be extremely high. This is a major, highly visible, component to the nation's space program, doing something that the country has never done before, making another step forward in the exploration of Mars... I mean, it doesn't get better than this, it really doesn't. It's a joy to come to work.

It's a joy to work with the people. I've got a fantastic team. The team chemistry is superb. You know, they are all top notch people, and they are as committed and as excited and enthusiastic as I am... I mean this is a tough job, but this group of people can do it.