I study orbital dynamics as a hobby. My idea of a good time is sitting down and drawing on that knowledge to imagine a space mission from beginning to end, getting as many details right as I can. Andy Weir More Quotes by Andy Weir More Quotes From Andy Weir Back in the days of Apollo, sending humans to the moon was the only viable way to get the scientific data we wanted. But now, with our computer and robotics technology, there's very little an astronaut can do on Mars that a well-designed rover can't. Andy Weir back technology moon way Just so we're clear, Mark Watney is who I want to be. He has all the qualities I like about myself magnified without any of the qualities I dislike. Mark Watney isn't afraid to fly. Andy Weir fly myself like want I don't even date; I'm terrible with women. Andy Weir date even women terrible I was hired as a computer programmer for a national laboratory at age 15. Andy Weir programmer national laboratory age My first book was so horrible I have deleted all copies of it. Thankfully, it was before the Internet, so there are no lurking caches of it anywhere. Andy Weir first horrible internet book I originally wrote 'The Martian' as a free serial novel, posting one chapter at a time to my website. Andy Weir chapter free website time You want an audience. If you didn't, you wouldn't be a writer. The biggest motivation to write is the knowledge that someone will read it. Andy Weir will someone you knowledge Don't tell your stories to anyone. You'll be more motivated knowing it's a prerequisite to having an audience. Andy Weir your more tell you My father has a great love of science, and he indoctrinated me into it early. I think I was 12 or so when we designed a moon base. Andy Weir me love science father There's nothing I would like more than to watch a manned Mars landing. Andy Weir more nothing like mars I was born too late to experience Apollo 11, though I do trek to Dad's house every time there's some space event. There's something awesome about crossing your fingers and watching a tense Mission Control room do their thing. Andy Weir experience dad space time Research into manned spaceflight is shifting from low-Earth orbit to destinations much further away, like Mars and the asteroid belt. But society will have to invent many new technologies before it can plausibly send people to those distances. Andy Weir new society research people The reason space missions need artificial gravity is clear: humans simply did not evolve to live in zero gravity. Andy Weir live need space reason There's more to research than just looking up facts. Eventually, you have to make subjective calls. If you're writing a science fiction novel, there's probably some speculative technology in it. You'll have to decide how to project existing technology forward in a plausible way. Andy Weir looking you technology science If you look up every last detail on your subject, you'll never finish. Andy Weir your never look you Eventually, while researching, you'll learn something you didn't want to know. Some fact that ruins a plotline you had in mind. The good news is that sometimes, learning all the facts can make for a much more interesting story than you originally had in mind. Andy Weir good you learning mind If the reader is rooting for the protagonist, they'll forgive you just about everything else. Andy Weir forgive everything just you I don't take Mars One seriously at all. Andy Weir seriously take mars If someone offered me a free trip to the International Space Station, I would decline. I like Earth. I like the internet. I like Diet Coke. I have cats. I write about brave people - I'm not one of them. Andy Weir cats me brave people
