The science fiction novel “The Martian” is a thrilling tale of survival. The best-selling book by Andy Weir tells the story of astronaut Mark Watney after he is abandoned on Mars and manages to survive long enough to be rescued. “The Martian” has most recently been made into a movie starring Matt Damon.
Even though the story is a work of fiction, there are several important survival lessons that we can take away from it.
- Problem Solving – As a scientist and astronaut, Watney is exceptional in his problem-solving abilities. His expertise as a botanist means he’s able to grow his own food, and his engineering background gives him a leg up in fixing and rigging equipment to suit his purposes. It seems that there is no problem that Watney cannot overcome with a little bit of ingenuity.
- Using What’s at Hand – Watney has to rely on a variety of different materials he already has on hand for his survival. For example, he establishes communication with NASA by using a lander from a previous Mars mission. He makes use of space suits, human waste, and even good old-fashioned duct tape to stay alive. Watney demonstrates that it’s essential in any survival situation to use whatever is available.
- Communication – One of the keys to Watney’s eventual rescue is his ability to establish communication with NASA. There are many individuals who work together to come up with a successful plan to save Watney once they know he’s alive. However, this partnership wouldn’t have been possible without Watney being able to communicate with Earth. His communication with NASA also provides a psychological and emotional boost. When Watney loses his link to NASA in a freak accident, he suddenly finds himself desperately alone and flying blind.
- Relying on Others – Even though Watney is alone on Mars, there is a whole team back on Earth that will do anything to see him rescued before he runs out of food. This team involves members of NASA, the crew that left him behind, and even space agencies in other countries. Watney has to depend on others to get himself home.
- Not Giving Up – As the first human being to be stranded on Mars, Watney faces a series of problems that no one has ever had to deal with. These include making water, having enough oxygen, and encountering Martian storms. However, he does face similar problems that those of us back on Earth deal with in emergency situations: getting enough food, staying warm, and waiting for rescue. He encounters problem after problem, and it’s difficult not to be impressed by Watney’s survival mindset. He is determined to live despite the odds against him. This might be the most important aspect of survival: perseverance.