In the opening chapter of Andy Weir's The Martian , astronaut Mark Watney finds himself stranded on Mars on Sol 6 after being impaled and left for dead during a massive dust storm. After waking alone, he surgically removes the antenna himself, seals his suit, and begins his desperate struggle for survival, dealing with the realities of the Ares 3 mission protocols. The chapter, which focuses on his immediate survival, is detailed in summaries from LitCharts and Course Hero . THE MARTIAN: Chapters 1-3, August's Evergreen : r/bookclub