Martians and mutineers

I haven't seen the new movie The Martian. I've seen two trailers and read two reviews. To judge by that, it's an inspiration, beat-the-odds movie.

In order to rescue the stranded astronaut, his crew members must disobey orders. The audience is, of course, expected to root for the mutineers and jeer the NASA administrators. 

Keep in mind that NASA astronauts are gov't employees. Based on the reaction to Kim Davis, shouldn't they "quit or just do their job?" 

But the film is predicated an audience sympathy for the insubordinate gov't employees and antipathy towards their heartless supervisors.