The Science Behind The Martian: How to Farm Potatoes in Space Without Losing Your Mind

The Martian is more than a movie that depicts the struggle of one man to survive on Mars but is also a story about resilience, potato farming, and even more sarcastic comments which made Matt Damon's character, Mark Watney, so far from getting space-crazy. But how does this knowledge go hand in hand? Can potatoes actually be farmed in Martian soil, survive for years through your great mind, or avoid becoming an alien popsicle?

Let's dive into the science of botany, space survival, and why Watney is probably the most innovative farmer this side of the solar system.

1. Growing Potatoes on Mars: Farming in Space (And Not Just for French Fries)

Mark growing potatoes in the Martian soil

Undeniably the most scientist of moments in The Martian occurs when Mark Watney decides to cultivate potatoes in the Martian soil. Okay, that sounds disgusting-his own waste as fertilizer-but in a survival situation, use what you have. And how does he describe this little experiment? "I'm going to have to science the shit out of this." (Literally.)

But seriously, could one really grow crops on Mars? Well, first the good news: it works at this basic level. Mars has soil, which in it does contain all the necessary nutrients for phosphorus and nitrogen; that's what plants need phosphorus and nitrogen. The Martian soil, however, is many orders of magnitude more toxic than anything you'd find on Earth due to perchlorates and chemicals that can be harmful to both humans and plants. He'd have had to neutralize the soil itself first in order to eliminate these perchlorates, or otherwise taken a great deal of his "homemade" fertilizer to dilute it.

Scientists have actually grown crops using simulated Martian soil on Earth. They've had success with hardy plants like potatoes and lettuce. So while Watney's space potato farm may not be perfect, the basic principle is scientifically sound—don't count, however, on making too much mashed potato without a serious knowledge of soil science.

Pants moment: If Martian potatoes were going to be the next big thing in gourmet restaurants. "Yes, I'll have the fries from Mars with a side of space ketchup, please."

2. Water on Mars: Where's the Cosmic Tap?

Hydrazine molecule 

One of the first challenges Watney faces is getting water on a planet that's essentially one huge desert. And no, he did not just whip out his giant Brita and call it good. Watney makes water by breaking down chemically hydrazine, a fuel the Hab uses, to release hydrogen, which he burns with oxygen to create water.

This is theoretically possible though a sort of risky process by which water is created; he could, after all, have blown himself up. Real NASA plans on Mars are to extract water from the ice deposits found beneath the Martian surface, and even from the small amounts of water vapor in the Martian atmosphere. In fact, Mars has vast water reservoirs-it's just a question of locating them and determining how to access them without being vaporized by cosmic rays.

In short, so while Watney's solution was quite impressive-and rather explosive-future astronauts may simply dig for ice like gold.

Joke break: Watney really did make water from rocket fuel. So, in a way, drinking water on Mars is like drinking rocket juice. Next space cocktail, anyone?

3. Mars: The Planet That Hates You

Martian dust storm

OKay, so Mars is beautiful in its own red, barren way. But let's be honest-it's trying to kill you. Between the thin atmosphere, extreme temperatures, and killer dust storms, surviving on Mars is no joke.

Now, when people try to establish a human settlement on Mars, they will not find the atmosphere to be too oxygen-rich to breathe. And it is approximately 100 times thinner than the Earth's atmosphere-so you can forget about an evening stroll outside without your space suit. And the temperature? At night, it drops to a cozy -80°F (-62°C), so your Earthly winter coat looks pretty useless.

And that's not all: let's not forget the Martian dust storms. In the film, Watney is stranded after the blow of a huge storm. Mars does experience dust storms, but they're not quite as powerful as the movie. Since Mars' atmosphere is so thin, the storms wouldn't even have enough force to blow over a spaceship; they're more like vast dust clouds. They are annoying and visibility-killing but won't flip over a spaceship.

While weather is no doubt a concern for astronaut Watney, it is his least threat. Radiation presents him with the biggest challenge. Cosmic radiation constantly bombards him day and night with cancer-increasing doses, for there is no magnetic field to protect him and a sparsely thick atmosphere en route to Earth. A real-life NASA Martian will have to have a contingency plan for that when preparing the fundamentals of their mission.

4. Survival: Science, Duct Tape, and a Lot of Sarcasm

Let's face it: the main thing Watney has going for him isn't his science skills-it's his sense of humor. Keeping a positive (and snarky) attitude is key when you're stuck in the middle of nowhere in the hostile desert of Mars, surviving there for years. If one thing was right about The Martian, it is the psychosocial aspect of survival in outer space.

Humans are social creatures, and being alone on Mars for years, with no direct contact with humans, was certainly no walk in the (space) park. Isolation and confinement are said to be avenues to psychological stress according to previous studies; therefore, it is probable that sarcasm and self-deprecating humor were what kept Watney sane. Real astronauts preparing for Mars missions will face the same challenges while relying on everything from virtual reality to regular communications with Earth to keep their mental health from going off the scales.

And, of course, there's the duct tape. Duct tape proves to be an essential survival tool—at least in space, according to NASA.

Pants moment: Watney and duct tape-name a better duo. I'll wait.

5. The Rescue Logistics: No Pressure, NASA

The final act of The Martian focuses on the rescue mission, bringing Watney back home. Along with complex orbital mechanics, gravity assists, and some high-stakes calculations, this is thrown into the mix. Hollywood might have made a few liberties because, honestly, space rescues rarely turn out this smoothly; however, the math and physics behind the maneuver are all founded in real science.

The essence of space missions lies in orbital mechanics, that is to say the physics of object movement in space. For instance, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration  frequently employs gravity assists, or slingshotting of spacecraft around planets to increase their speed while saving on fuel and time en route. Those calculations Watney and his crew do are, indeed, critical to traveling in space, considering you travel millions of kilometers between planets.

Real-life missions to Mars will demand the same sort of precision. And as we haven't yet rescued any astronauts stranded on Mars, yet (mostly because we haven't sent any there), NASA intends to get humans to Mars at some point in the 2030s. Knock wood they've provided enough spuds.

Joke break: "NASA, no pressure, but if you're gonna leave someone stuck on Mars, make sure he's good at math and farming."

Conclusion: Mars Is Cool, but Maybe Bring a Jacket

In the end, The Martian does an incredible job at seamlessly integrating real science with an engaging, human story. Sure, there are some Hollywood flourishes (looking at you, dust storm), but the core principles of growing food in space, making water, and surviving on a hostile planet are all based in real science.

So the next time you are stranded on Mars, remind yourself of these golden survival rules: pack some duct tape, farm potatoes, and maybe work on that sarcastic sense of humor. And if all else fails, just keep repeating to yourself-you're going to have to "science the sh*t" out of everything. No pressure.