Adapted from Andy Weir’s novel of the same name, Ridley Scott’s, ‘The Martian’ depicts a tale of extreme optimism, courage, determination and imagination. Astronaut and botanist Mark Watney along with the Ares 3 crew led by Commander Melissa Lewis is collecting samples from the Martian surface. A sudden windstorm wreaks havoc on the crew and sweeps Watney away. Assuming Watney to have been killed by the falling debris, the crew abandons the planet and begin their journey back to Earth. But as the storm settles, Watney is injured and finds himself stranded alone on the red planet. As he struggles to survive with limited resources, Watney wanders around the Martian surface and tries to establish contact with folks back home. Though NASA reports about Watney’s death and aborts the mission, the crew is shocked to know about Watney being alive and thus contemplates a rescue plan to bring him back. The movie brilliantly illustrates loneliness, uncertainty, hope and survival. The application of scientific knowledge to his situation helps Watney survive. The movie reinstates human faith in science and evolution. The Martian brings us close to the possibilities of science and human potential for survival.
-Team ScienceNow
