“It’s from Ridley Scott,” my geeky film friend said. “The guy who did Aliens and Prometheus.” His comment may as well have been alien, my knowledge of film makers is very limited. “Uh, I dunno,” I replied. Persistent, he tried again: “Just come, ok? It’s got Matt Damon and it’s in 3D.” Matt Damon – that was something I could work with, “Ok, ok, I’ll go. But if it’s not good, it’s on you.”
Turns out my geeky film friend was onto something and the movie I was taken to was both good and thought provoking. It was called the Martian and all about survival on Mars. The storyline centres around botanist Mark Watney (Matt Damon), who is hit by flying debris, thrown out of sight of his aircraft and fellow team mates, and left for dead. His team mates, poor guys had no choice, leave Watney and start their 140 million mile commute back to Earth.
The movie shows Watney, stuck on the red planet without any hope of rescue, having to figure out how to survive in this predicament. Luckily, in his words, he is the “best botanist on the planet” and if he wants to find a way to survive he knows he has to “science the bleep” out of his situation. Which he does – planting potatoes, using faeces for fertiliser, figuring out how to communicate with earth, problem solving and making his rations last.
I learned all about the planets when I was 13. I had the rhyme and the order nailed – you could wake me up at 12am and I’d tell you the order of the planets in our solar system perfectly, no pauses or prompts required. Thing is, with the exception of my junior school classes and the odd packet of Astro chocolates, I haven’t found myself thinking about anything regarding planets or life on other planets in a very long time.
Until I was dragged to watch a movie about it.
Mark’s remarkable (if slightly unrealistic) ability to survive in film The Martian, made me think: would I survive on Mars? Would you?
Before you answer take these few things into consideration:
1. It takes between 3 and 22 minutes to get information to Earth from Mars, so a quick Skype call to your buddies back home is out of the question.
2. Say goodbye to your taste buds. Cheat day ain’t happening, it’s only plants grown in space – think sweet potatoes, spinach, lettuce or soya beans. You’ll never eat chocolate cake again.
3. Once you’ve adapted to Martian gravity you won’t be able to come back to Earth. Ever.
4. The atmosphere on Mars is 96% carbon dioxide, with only a trace of oxygen. There will be no casual afternoon walks. Your oxygen mask will become your new favourite accessory.
5. The average temperature on Mars is -60 degrees and they have dust storms.
I think it’s safe to say I wouldn’t survive on Mars despite my ability to name the planets in our solar system. Watching Watney try and slug his way across a barren landscape, portion the meagre rations left from the crew and attempt to entertain himself with disco music left me with a huge sense of appreciation for our green planet, running water, friends and family and the oxygen in my lunges.
This talk of survival and life on Mars reminded me that at times we aren’t grateful for what we have. We believe answers are found somewhere else – another place or planet or a grand adventure. In my life, I’ve found the answers are found right where you are – in knowing my purpose, the one who made me and in learning to be content.