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We are introduced to some problems and life threatening situations in the next few chapters. As we continue to read The Martian,reflect on how Mark has dealt with the continuous problems he is faced with.  

Reflect on all of the following five statements or questions, and write and post your reflections for one or more of the posted questions.


1. To what extent do you think guilt played a part in the crew's choice to go back to Mark? To what extent loyalty?How would you explain the difference?

2. As we gain the perspective of Mars exploration through reading this book, how do we weigh the inherent risks vs.the potential benefits of space exploration?

3. The perception that we have of Mark Watney. Do you feel that Mark is masking his true reaction and emotions to such a dire situation?

4. Do you feel Mars is the new Frontier or a featureless waste land?  

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1. The decision for Mark's crew to return back for his rescue must have been nerve racking. They all had the opportunity to not rescue Mark back on Mars. The crews mentality to "leave no man behind" could cost everyone's life because of the potential for somewhere down the line of a malfunction in outer space. Their loyalty in my opinion illustrates a compassion that most humans possess when they become attached to someone who is there for the team support. The guilt of the crew about Mark's survival probably affected them psychologically. Their decision to rescue Mark back on Mars with their mentality of guilt and loyalty urged the crew as a whole to provide assistance for one human being to change history for mankind.

2. The universe we live in is extremely vast with unknowns of new territories  waiting to be explored. Planets, stars, and moons provide feedback to our human behavior to explore what is waiting out there in "the final frontier." Our curiosity starting from out planet to space exploration has its risks and benefits of new discoveries. The unknown can be frightening and exciting at the same time because of new potentials of scientific breakthroughs for human kind. There is a saying that goes if you don't try then you'll never know. Space exploration will require risk no matter how far advanced the human race is because of the unknown risks that are being discovered each year. In return, if we don't attempt to discover new "grounds" then our potential to reach other locations and possibly discover new life will never be prominent.  

3. I believe Mark is trying his 110% to survive another day. If I were placed in his "boots" then I would be attempting to do the same actions as he is doing throughout the story. His response to sudden changes in the environment he is currently inhabiting is extremely hostile. The benefit of his knowledge of botany and engineering has definitely aided his survival skills to live on the "Red Planet." Mark's emotions to cope with certain situations while being stranded on Mars has provided his psychological behavior of trying to interact with another human being even though nobody is near him for millions of miles. It must be hard for Mark to cope with a situation he is currently in with little potential of social interaction. The human behavior of interpersonal communications with other beings is a vital necessity for us to stay sane and have that comfort for support.

4. My philosophy about Mars is the next step for human kinds frontier. Since no human being has stepped foot on a planet, it would definitely reflect from Neil Armstrong's famous quote, " that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Mars could be identified as a wasteland through some people's perception because of the potential barren land you can witness through a telescope. Looks can be deceiving, but if any human being were to step on Mars, the potential discoveries to learn about another planet that looked like Earth at one time could help further understand  our knowledge of the universe. We live in an exciting time because of our curiosity to explore new opportunities to further aid our understanding to why we live on planet Earth. Mars for all we know could have been a "sister planet" with humanoid creatures inhabiting Mars at one time? The opportunities of discoveries are there only if we push ourselves to leave out "comfort zone."

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1. I would say that I do not have enough information to give that answer, but it would be best to say it was some of both. It would depend purely on the motivation, whether it is for themselves or for Mark. Captain Lewis is going back to absolve her own guilt; Mark is merely coincidental. She would go back for anyone on her crew, Mark or not. She isn't showing any loyalty to Mark; she wants to feel better and like she did her duty as a captain. On the other hand, some crew members are going because they are loyal to Mark. He is one of their crew, their family, and no one gets left behind. They don't have any guilt; they just want their man back. The difference comes down to where that motivation comes from.

2. There is always risk, but that shouldn't mean we just sit with our heads buried in the sand. In the pursuit of knowledge, and exploration, there is no risk too great. People are going to die, money will be spent, things will happen whether we explore space or not. We might as well explore space. You never know what we will find. Also, if we believe the science, our planet will die; if the human race is to survive, we would need somewhere to go. Space for the win.

3. I think Mark is being honest. Not everybody reacts to doom, gloom, and grief in the same way. All Mark has is humor and a little know-how. It's his will to survive, supplemented by his light-hearted cynicism to everything, that has kept him going up to this point. Why should it stop now? If he were truly reacting to things the way normal people do, he would have taken enough meds to die a long time ago. The book would have been over by Chapter 5. His true emotions still break through in the darkness of his humor.

4. I don't know enough about Mars to make an intelligent comment. Does anyone actually know? Have we explored Mars enough to have a conclusion on this?

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3. Through reading this book I came to believe that the  "Mark" that we are presented with is his true personality. The evidence for this is that we are present with only logs that gives us insight into how Mark is feeling and what his reaction are to different situations. Why would Mark alter the logs to present himself as handling the situation in a calmer manner than he already was. The point of the logs is to detail the account of the days on Mars. If he altered his personal alot in the logs than the information provided would not be accurate and not accurately represent his days of Mars.

4. It remains a mystery if Mars contains life or is barren wasteland. This is hard to say because we have barely touched upon the land of Mars. While the United States and Russia have sent machines (rovers, probes)to explore the land, no significant piece of evidence has been found the may insenate lif on Mars. While space programs are still working on bringing astronauts to Mars, the world has still yet to find out what lies on the mystery of the land.