Sage-Tips

What caused the Hab to explode in the Martian?

At the end of the chapter, when Watney reenters the Hab after a short walk to the rover, the airlock blows open, hits Watney in the face, and causes the Hab to depressurize instantly and “collapse” on itself. Watney can’t believe his bad luck.

Could you grow potatoes in Martian soil?

Mars soil simulants have been found to hold water better than Earth soil and produce better growth of plant species. So Watney could safely fertilise his potatoes with the nitrates and other elements present in the crew’s waste that are in low supply in the Martian soil.

Can you grow potatoes in Martian soil?

In The Martian, potatoes are successfully harvested after 48 sols (a Martian solar day – 24 hours 39 minutes long), but the success of the venture does not last: Watney’s potato-growing is put to an abrupt end as the front of his habitat blows off, exposing his entire crop to the Martian air.

What happened mark Watney?

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. The crew is forced to leave him thinking he died due to rupture in his space suit.

Can plants grow in Martian soil?

Research suggests Martian soil has some of the nutrients plants need to grow and survive (see “Plants’ Nutrients,” right). When soils are rich in nutrients—such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—crops grow well.

Where did Watney grow 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 the airlock fail in the Martian?

It was stressed by a windstorm, friction from the motion of the flexible Hab wall against the rigid airlock causing the polymer to heat up, soften, and allow the carbon fibres to spread apart slightly.

Why didn’t Mark Watney grow more crops after the Hab malfunction?

Why didn’t Mark Watney grow more crops after malfunction happened in the Hab on Mars? In The Martian, I understand that all the bacteria would have died after getting exposed to Mars’ atmosphere with sub zero temperature, but Mark’s poop will always have bacteria to cultivate more crops.

Why did mark not eat the potatoes in the Hab?

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.

Why didn’t he plant the potato plants?

All the plants/potatoes were dead from lack of oxygen and sub freezing temperature. The bacteria in the poop soil as well. And his source of fuel that he could turn into water. So he had nothing to plant, in soil that was sterilized, with no water to sustain it.

Why did Watney name his tomato plant After Watney?

Because of Watney’s love/hate relationship with potatoes and his proud status of ‘Botanist’ real life person Chris Martine named a new type of bush tomato after him, the Solanum Watneyi . When Airlock 1 breached, causing a gaping hole in The Hab, the potatoes were freeze dried and the bacteria in the soil assumed dead.