The Martian Lesson Plan

Consider Watney's daily routine since being stranded on Mars. What has it involved? Why do you think NASA is eager to "pack the rest of [Watney's] time with research and experiments?" How do you think this might help?

Watney's daily routine consists mostly of running maintenance on the many life support systems that keep him alive (Hab, oxygenator, potato farm, etc.) These things are regularly in need of his attention. What the reader probably doesn't see is all of the down time that Watney has. Unless there is an emergency, Watney is left with the same daily routine that revolves entirely around his survival. It's necessary, but it is probably demoralizing. By...