Cliff
asked
Andy Weir:
Mr. Weir, in your book, The Martian, you communicate the challenges that await the first settlers of Mars. The tale is both powerful and timely, considering the likes of Elon Musk and Neil Armstrong callng for we colonization of the Red Planet, post haste. What are your thoughts about the epidemic of "Mars Fever" taking hold in the global psyche? Wouldn't a robotic first wave make more sense?
Andy Weir
We're a long way away from actual colonization. The robot wave you speak of is in progress right now and will continue for some time. Then comes manned missions. If we ever do colonize Mars, I'm sure it would start with a lot of robots as well to build up infrastructure.
But by the time we colonize Mars we will already have a lot of experience in colonization. Because we will have already colonized the Moon.
But by the time we colonize Mars we will already have a lot of experience in colonization. Because we will have already colonized the Moon.
More Answered Questions
Michael Samuelson
asked
Andy Weir:
I'm a coach on my daughter's FTC Robotics team. It's an opportunity to share a love of engineering with future engineers in high school. I want to buy each kid on the team a copy of The Martian, as Mark Watney embodies the never-despair, every-problem-has-a-solution spirit the best engineers possess. Alas, the language prevents that. Any chance of a ****ed release? The Martian is too good not to share.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more