The Martian takes place in the near future. Ares 3, the mission Mark was on is hit by strong martian winds which lead the crew to make an emergency launch. During the time Mark is hit by a piece of debris, the crew assumes he is killed from this and leave without him. After Mark wakes up from the disaster that occurred realizes he has been left alone on the planet. Throughout the novel, he attempts to survive until he could be saved. After multiple near death situations, he eventually is saved by the same crew that left him. In total, he survives a total of five hundred and forty-nine martian days through his knowledge as an engineer to repair his shelter and equipment. As well as a botanist, managing to colonize mars with food which he uses to survive.