Mark Watney
The botanist who turned Martian dirt into a potato farm and 'worked the problem' to survive.
via Wikipedia: The Martian (Weir novel) · see source
Mark Watney is the protagonist of Andy Weir's 2011 novel The Martian, a botanist and mechanical engineer who becomes stranded alone on Mars in 2035 after his crew evacuates during a wind storm. Presumed dead when an antenna impales him and disables his spacesuit radio, he must rely on his own resourcefulness to survive. His philosophy is to "work the problem," solving each challenge as it confronts him. He begins a log of his experiences, growing potatoes in the Hab using an iridium catalyst to separate hydrogen from hydrazine fuel, which he burns with oxygen to generate water.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Botanist and mechanical engineer, Ares 3 crew member
- Affiliation
- NASA, Ares 3 mission
- First appears
- The Martian (2011 novel)
- Status
- Alive, rescued and returned to Earth
Lore & Background
Mark Watney is a man of science and practicality, traits that define his every action after being left behind on the Red Planet. With the Hab's limited food, he grows potatoes using Martian soil, his own waste as fertilizer, and water from hydrazine fuel. His daily logs document his struggle against equipment failures and isolation. He plans to drive 3,235 kilometers to Schiaparelli crater where the Ares 4 MAV is pre-positioned.
He modifies a rover, adding solar cells and an additional battery, and makes a three-week test drive to recover part of the Pathfinder lander and Sojourner rover to contact NASA. When the Hab's canvas tears from repeated use of the same airlock, the depressurization nearly kills him and his plants die. He survives a rover rollover on his descent into Schiaparelli and reaches the MAV, where he receives instructions on radical modifications to reduce weight, including removing the nose cap and covering it with Hab canvas.
Reader's Guide
Mark Watney is the heart and mind of The Martian, a character defined by his relentless optimism, technical brilliance, and sharp wit. As a botanist and engineer, he uses his knowledge to solve life-or-death problems, from creating water to modifying the rover for a long journey. His arc transforms him from a stranded castaway into a global icon, coordinating with NASA and his crew to escape Mars. Key moments include growing potatoes, surviving the Hab explosion, and the daring rescue where Lewis improvises a plan to intercept the MAV by firing Hermes' attitude thrusters and blowing a hole in the front airlock with an improvised sugar-and-liquid-oxygen bomb. Beck uses a Manned Maneuvering Unit on a tether to reach Watney and bring him back to Hermes. His philosophy of 'working the problem' encapsulates his spirit, making him a beloved figure of practical heroism.
Did You Know?
- Watney's injury from the antenna was relatively minor, but it disabled his spacesuit radio and life signs monitoring system, leading his crew to presume him dead.
- After losing communication with Earth when he accidentally shorted out Pathfinder's electronics, he spelled out Morse code with rocks for one-way communication.
More in Characters
Elsewhere in The Martian
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