Science and Engineering are inherently dramatic enterprises. Initial impressions of how something should work are often inaccurate. First attempts at calculating what an outcome should be often aren't complete. Creative imagination and persistence can often find its way around seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Shortsightedness can render dire threats invisible and lead to ruin.

The Martian Engineering Notebook is a scientific supplement and critique of The Martian by Andy Weir. It contains explanations of scientific concepts and detailed solutions to problems related to the challenges of Mark Watney's ordeal on Mars. Should he have survived? What did he get right? What did he get wrong? What did he get wrong, but it didn't matter? These are the kinds of questions that The Martian Engineering Notebook seeks to provide researched and organized answers to.

Volume 1 covers weather on Mars and an in-depth analysis of the resources at Mark's disposal as well as what it takes to build a farming ecosystem on Mars.