Question: Watney digs up the plutonium and places it in the rover. Why is the rover so cold later after the HAB blows up?
Aerinah
27th Feb 2016
The Martian (2015)
Answer: Watney used the RTG to heat the Rover for the trip to get Pathfinder. When he got back, he re-buried the RTG because he didn't need it while at the Hab (not travelling long distances) - hence the cold scene you noticed. Then later, when he goes on the even longer trip to the Ares 4 MAV, he digs up the RTG a second time and brings it along.
Answer: Is that mentioned in the book? Don't remember it being mentioned, but I can recheck.
29th Apr 2022
The Martian (2015)
Question: When Watney causes an explosion while trying to hydrate his plants with hydrogen, he states that it was because he didn't account for the oxygen he'd been exhaling. We exhale carbon dioxide, with only trace amounts of oxygen. Could such tiny amounts of oxygen actually be calculated in his circumstances?
Chosen answer: It's not about calculating the precise amount of oxygen. What Watney means is he failed to take into account the fact that he would be exhaling some oxygen, so he wasn't careful to make sure his exhaled air didn't get anywhere near the still (by wearing a sealed, airtight helmet/spacesuit). (Also, there's more than just a tiny trace of oxygen in our exhaled air - for example, it's enough to support someone receiving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation - as Watney recalls in the aftermath of the book version of this scene).
I did check the book, then did further research. You were right-we exhale about 16-17 % oxygen. I understand what you were saying about the percentage not being the issue now. Thx for the informed reply.
I looked it up before asking the question. That's how I found out only trace amounts were being exhaled. I'll recheck the book as you stated.
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Answer: He used the RTG to warm the rover on his trip to get Pathfinder. Once he returned he buried it again, since it posed a radiation hazard.
Grumpy Scot
I rechecked the book. He did NOT rebury it. In fact, he tore out extra insulation inside the rover so the interior would not get too warm during his upcoming trip to the other landing site. The RTG was, in fact, an integral part of his equipment for the journey. However, by tearing out an appropriate amount of insulation, he pointed out that the heat from the RTG would leak out some during regular operation. But sitting unoccupied for a while, enough heat might have leaked out to make it chilly.
Smokyoak