What if you were stranded on Mars?

If you were left on Mars without a spacesuit, you would immediately freeze and choke, then die. The air on Mars is toxic: It’s more than 95 percent carbon dioxide with just a trace of oxygen (0.13 percent). Air pressure on Mars is equivalent to that at about 21 miles altitude (38 kilometers) on Earth.

What skills and experiences did Watney have that helped him survive on Mars?

In the story, Watney’s botany skills help him survive the ordeal. He uses the potatoes NASA packed for his Mars expedition along with his own feces and manages to grow potatoes in a small farm inside the Hab. Also, his knowledge of chemistry allows him to make water, which he uses to irrigate the potatoes.

How did Mark Watney handle his isolation?

Throughout The Martian, Mark Watney did his best to avoid the health effects of isolation by stimulating his mind with various activities to keep it occupied and not focused on being the only human on Mars.

How does Mark Watney get left behind on Mars?

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. During the evacuation one of the crew members, Mark Watney, is hit by a projectile due to the storm and is thrown away.

What did Mark Watney do on Mars?

Mark Watney was then chosen for the Ares III mission because of his humor and good attitude. Mark Watney was also selected to perform experiments on plant growth using Martian Soil and Martian gravity.

What are some of the dangers Watney will face due to being left behind on Mars?

The main problem that the crew, and especially Watney, faces is radiation on the Martian surface. Radiation can cause “damage [to] your central nervous system…, radiation sickness that results in nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and fatigue…, [and] degenerative tissue diseases” (Abadie, Lloyd, & Shelhamer, 2018).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOXVVvBAl1o