NASA proudly reported that its Mars mission is years ahead of schedule due to an “unexpectedly high number of volunteers.” Unbeknownst to the public, this surge was actually the result of mistakenly leaving several interns on Mars during previous missions. The agency is currently working on a “rescue” mission, though some insiders hint the interns are “having a blast.”

Houston, TX — In an unexpected turn of events, NASA officials have announced that their Mars mission is progressing years ahead of schedule. The reason? A surprising influx of “volunteers” who were, apparently, inadvertently left behind during previous missions.

According to sources within NASA, the mistake came to light when a routine satellite check spotted several interns cheerfully building a makeshift settlement on the Red Planet. These interns, originally sent to assist with minor tasks like adjusting antennas and carrying heavy things that astronauts didn’t want to, were mistakenly left behind as the last Mars rover mission packed up and headed back to Earth.

“We thought we were just giving them a good hands-on experience,” said a NASA spokesperson. “Turns out, it was more like an all-expenses-paid, one-way trip to Mars.”

The discovery has been met with a mix of astonishment and mild panic back on Earth. The interns, however, appear to be thriving. Reports indicate they’ve set up a small colony, complete with 3D-printed housing, a hydroponic garden, and something one intern described as “the best interplanetary Wi-Fi you’ll ever find—because there’s no one else using it.”

“We were initially freaked out, but then we realized we’re basically pioneers,” said one of the interns via a live video feed. “Plus, no one’s here to tell us to get coffee or make photocopies. It’s the ultimate internship!”

NASA officials are now scrambling to spin this colossal oversight into a positive narrative. A hastily organized press conference saw top administrators lauding the interns for their “dedication to the mission” and “willingness to go above and beyond—literally.”

“We couldn’t be prouder of these young people,” said the NASA Administrator. “Sure, we kind of, sort of, left them on another planet, but look at what they’ve accomplished! They’ve paved the way for future missions. We’re talking about the first-ever self-sustaining human colony on Mars, and we didn’t even have to pay overtime!”

The incident has led to some changes in NASA’s operational procedures. For one, there’s now a new checklist item: “Count everyone before leaving the planet.” Additionally, NASA is working on a rescue mission, which they’ve dubbed “Operation Oops, Our Bad.” This mission is set to launch within the next two years, though some at NASA have suggested the interns might prefer to stay put given their new Martian lifestyle.

In a surprising twist, the interns have become internet celebrities, with their social media accounts gaining millions of followers. They regularly post updates, showing off their Mars-based cooking experiments and zero-gravity dance parties. One intern even posted a video titled “Mars: The Ultimate Remote Work Destination,” which has since gone viral.

Back on Earth, the story has sparked a wave of interest in space travel among the public, with many young people now clamoring for internships at NASA in the hopes of becoming the next accidental Martian settlers.

As for the interns, they’ve expressed mixed feelings about returning to Earth. “We miss our families, sure,” said one. “But, honestly, where else are we going to get this kind of experience? Plus, we’re sort of like Mars celebrities now. Who knew an internship could lead to this?”

NASA, meanwhile, is quick to emphasize that this was a one-time “happy accident” and that all future missions will include rigorous headcounts. “We’re learning from this,” assured the spokesperson. “And next time, we’ll make sure to bring everyone back—or at least leave them with a return ticket.”

As the world watches in awe, one thing is clear: NASA’s Mars mission might just go down in history as the greatest inadvertent success story in the history of space exploration. And as for the interns-turned-pioneers? They’re already planning the first interplanetary startup, with the working title: “Mars or Bust.”