How did the author establish his credibility with scientific detail?

What are some of the ways the author established his credibility with scientific detail? Which of Mark's solutions did you find most amazing and yet believable?

Andy Weir established his credibility with scientific detail very early on in the book. In the first chapter or also known as “Log Entry: SOL 6” On page 2 Andy Weir writes, “I guess I should explain how Mars missions work, for any layman who may be reading this.” This might seem irrelevant, but this is the author's way of making a connection with the character and the audience early on in a comfortable relatable way. The first way the author ties a scientific background into the story is when Mark Watney, who is the main character, awakes from the sound of his space suit beeping at him. Andy Weir writes on page 4, “After a while, the CO2 (carbon dioxide) absorbers in the suit were extended. That's the limiting factor to life support. Not the amount of oxygen you bring with you, but the amount of CO2 you can remove.” This might seem like basic knowledge, but the way the author ties little scientific pieces like this into the story makes it just so much more believable. The solution that Mark came up with that I found amazing and yet believable was when he was trying to figure out how to create water. He has solved all the other issues as to how to grow potatoes, yet the water was a mystery. Andy Weir wrote on page 25, “Once I get the fuel plant hooked up to the Hab’s power, it’ll give me half a liter of liquid CO2 per hour, indefinitely.” That was the first part of him creating water, because obviously H2O has to have oxygen. It was a little more tricky to get the hydrogen. Andy Weir wrote on page 26, “There’s just one catch: Liberating hydrogen from hydrazine is...well...dangerous. It’s really really hot. And dangerous.” After a dangerous trip to get the hydrogen it all works out and he begins to grow the potatoes, this is an interesting take on making water, but yet very believable.

Work Cited

Weir, Andy. The Martian. Crown: MC, 2014.