The potatoes were intended by NASA’s psychologists to foster a sense of fellowship among the astronauts, and this nod to the importance of humanity and community turns out to sustain Watney in a much more physical sense. In this way, the potatoes symbolize the tenacity of life, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Why did Watney choose to grow potatoes?
Matt Damon in a scene from the film, “The Martian.” In the film, the character he plays, Mark Watney, plants potatoes in Martian soil to have enough food to survive.
What are some symbols in the Martian?
The Martian Symbols
- The Potatoes. For most of his time on Mars, Watney subsists on his crop of potatoes.
- The RTG.
- The Dust Storm.
What does Mark Watney dip his potato in?
Sparking a chemical reaction to produce water, Watney blasts himself across the room. Running out of ketchup to leaven the taste of his home-grown, life-sustaining potatoes, he dips them in crushed Vicodin.
What happened to the potatoes in the Martian?
Airlock Breach
When Airlock 1 breached, causing a gaping hole in The Hab, the potatoes were freeze dried and the bacteria in the soil assumed dead. Because of this Mark was unable to grow any more potatoes and could only eat the ones he still had with him.
What else will Watney need to grow his potatoes?
But Watney didn’t grow potatoes in full Martian conditions. He grew them in a human habitat with water, oxygen, and other amenities found on Earth. He just happened to use Martian soil for the bulk of his growing medium. The key factor would be the heavy amount of Martian soil used.
Why did NASA send the crew to Mars with 12 potatoes?
NASA sent potatoes to Mars with the Ares crew. They were supposed to be used for a Thanksgiving meal. As it turned out, they would end up having a much different fate. The potatoes kept stranded astronaut Mark Watney alive until he could be rescued by the crew that accidentally abandoned him.
What is the main message of the Martian?
A central theme to the movie The Martian is the fear of being alone. In the movie Matt Damon’s character has been left to fend for himself on the planet Mars for months until a rescue mission can be sent to save him.
What are some themes in the Martian?
Themes
- Isolation.
- Fear.
- Sacrifice.
- Perseverance.
- Science.
- Man Versus the Natural World.
- The Home.
- Friendship.
What is the purpose of the Martian masks?
The Martians in Bradbury’s novel wore masks to convey certain emotions, often hiding their true facial expressions and feelings. The Martians’ method of disguising their true feeling behind masks is used as an analog for how human being beings hide their true feelings or intentions to each other.
Why did Mark Watney have sores?
During MAV take off, at the beginning of the movie, one of the communication antennas struck him at the core. Watney uses stapler to hold them together. Those wounds would have healed and turned into scars. Also Watney gets blown once inside the HAB and another when the HAB main airlock breaks.
What does Matt Damon inject himself with in The Martian?
In Martian, Matt Damon eats potato with ketchup and Vicodin . Vicodin is a prescription pain killer medicine, it’s one of the most highly abused drug. The drug will lead to effects that are similar to opiates like morphine and heroin. Its effects include feeling of euphoria and feeling of calm and relaxation.
Is Martian soil toxic?
Martian soil is harmful for plants and people because it contains a lot of chlorine in molecules called perchlorates. These toxic molecules will need to be removed before using the soil to grow food crops. The harsh Martian environment poses many additional challenges plant growth.
Can you survive on just potatoes the Martian?
It’s made very clear that a potato only diet would sustain you for longer than nothing, but you wouldn’t be healthy. Mark had 400 days of rations as well, which he spread out to supplement his potato diet. He also had a lot of vitamins and other supplements to help with his nutrition.
How long did Mark Watney survive on potatoes?
Living on only potatoes, Watney’s body would begin to take calcium from its bones to supplement the lack of calcium in its bloodstream. As a result, Watney would develop Osteoporosis, the degradation of his bones and teeth, after about two months of living on only potatoes.
Can you survive on potatoes and milk?
Can humans survive on just potatoes and milk? Not indefinitely, no. Neither of those contains sufficient iron. Milk does not contain iron, and potatoes contain 0.78mg per 100g.
What did Watney use as fertilizer?
2) Watney grows potatoes in the Martian soil by using human excrement as fertilizer. Watney and his miraculous potato friends. Watney’s botany knowledge comes in handy when he realizes that the crew left behind a drawer of potatoes, meant to be a Thanksgiving treat.
How did they grow potatoes in space?
The potato seeds were placed inside the ISS’ computer-controlled growth chambers. This facility has unique lighting technology, high-efficiency temperature, humidity controls, and automation technology. Therefore, it can produce minitubers, even without the labor-intensive handling method.
What caused the explosion in The Martian?
He realizes that he caused the explosion by wearing an oxygen mask, not a space suit, while burning off the hydrogen. Humans exhale a mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen, so every time, Watney exhaled, his mask leaked a bit of oxygen into the system—in the presence of this extra oxygen, the hydrogen combusted.
How long will the food last if he doesn’t ration it The Martian?
The Ares III mission was supposed to last 31 sols (a sol is a 24.5-hour Martian day). Just to be safe, NASA sent 68 sols’ worth of food, for six people. For Watney alone, that will last 300 sols, extended to 400 if he rations.
What will Watney do if he runs out of food?
Survival Problem 1: Food
NASA provided the original team of 6 crew with enough food for about 50 sols. That leaves Watney with another 1000 sols without food. His only solution – to grow potatoes on Mars using his own faeces (poo) as fertilizer!