Read

In 2011, author Andy Weir self-published a novel called “The Martian.” The book was first available in chunks on Weir’s blog, but after fans requested an Amazon Kindle edition, Weir made it available through amazon for 99 cents. Weir, a computer programmer and son of a particle physicist, wrote the book by combining extensive internet research with his own mathematics skills to create a science-fiction story as genuinely rooted in actual science as possible. Weir told NPR’s Science Friday he studied ‘orbital mechanics, astronomy, and the history of manned spaceflight” to get the details right.

The Wall Street Journal says ““The Martian” reads like a detailed survival manual, with heavy doses of brain-cramping physics and chemistry.” That quote could be easily misinterpreted, as the story has received near-unanimous positive reviews for its originality, humor, intellect, and appeal to a wide variety of genre fans. But the point it makes it that science is king and holds the story together.

“Weir calculated the orbital paths for the spacecraft’s Mars journey, and wrote his own software to track constant thrust trajectories for the ship’s ion engine. (The length of the journey becomes a critical plot point late in the novel). To map Watney’s 3,200-plus mile journey across Mars as he attempts to reach the landing site for the next mission, Mr. Weir studied NASA satellite images and used Google Mars, a site Google built in collaboration with NASA that details the elevation and temperatures of Mars’s surface. He figured out the chemical reaction that would allow Watney to make 600 liters of water out of hydrazine and CO2. He calculated how many calories Watney would need to survive four years—2,137,500—how many potatoes that requires, and how much formable land he would need to develop for his potato crop.”

Matt Damon, who plays astronaut Mark Watney in The Martian (2015) film, calls the picture a “love letter to science.”

All that said, it’s obviously important the film retain the scientific authenticity of the material it sources. To do that, sci-fi director Ridley Scott worked to create environments as realistic as possible, and many of the film’s actors researched their roles. Jessica Chastain, who co-stars in the film, spent several days at NASA asking questions, shadowing people, and experienced simulators.

Ridley Scott is meticulous in his design and direction, dedicated to the details. About Scott’s approach, Matt Damon told IGN, “He’ll tell you exactly what this shot is, and what the next shot is going to be, and what two shots after are going to be.” For The Martian, Scott appears to understand the importance of scientific accuracy to the story. It’s what separates science fiction from what, in reference to the source novel, would be better called “science fact.”

The famous catchphrase from The Martian is “I’m going to have to science the shit out of this.” It’s spoken by Matt Damon’s character as a reference to his science-or-die situation being stranded on Mars. Humorous as the line is, it captures the spirit of science’s importance to the cohesion of the film’s narrative. To that end, real-life astronauts and space personnell have been involved as consultants.

“NASA is even involved in the film. While the government agency can’t support a private enterprise, their experts have consulted on the movie, and production has worked very closely with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab officials, Weir said. European Space Agency officials have also been on the film set. NASA also gave permission for the film to use the copyrighted NASA logo on its costumes.” - BusinessInsider

In a Reddit AMA, Weir said what he’s seen of the film is perfect for what he saw in his head when writing the story, which bodes well.