Outer space, home to celestial bodies, both seen and unseen, has fascinated humans, well, forever I expect. The unknown is both intriguing and frightening, a starting point for dreams and nightmares.

In “The Martian,” this week's offering at The Harbor Theatre, we travel with U.S. astronaut Mark Watney, portrayed superbly by Matt Damon, to Mars, a celestial body of unending interest.

Watley, the botanist on the mission aboard the Hermes led by Commander Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain), and his crew mates are making their way back to the spacecraft due to a violent storm that's kicked up on the Red Planet. As sand and debris swirl about them, the crew of six stumble along until a piece of the team's equipment, the size of medium sized satellite dish, breaks free. The “dish” strikes Watley and away he flies.

The stunned crew quickly realize Watley is missing. They decide they must board the Hermes. Commander Lewis says she is going to spend a few more minutes outside to try to find him. Reluctantly she, too, boards the craft, straps into her seat, and waits. She knows she must give the order to take off, but the thought of leaving Watley behind is incredibly painful.

Yet, she gives the order and the astronauts leave Mars, mourning Watley's death.

But, their mourning is premature.

When Watley regains consciousness, his life support alarm is fully engaged and sounding. His suit has been compromised; life support, oxygen, are at critical levels. His breathing labored, he looks around him and sees the Hermes is gone.

As he tries to stand he realizes he is attached to an antenna of the satellite; he attempts to separate from it, but painfully discovers part of the antenna has pierced his suit and his abdominal area.

After disengaging himself, Watley slowly makes his way back to the NASA base quarters, removes his helmet and gear, cuts off his shirt, and prepares to remove a piece of the antenna still inside him.

The surgery scene may give rise to at least a wince or two, but more likely a muffled curse word - or two.

The surgery behind him, the knowledge that he is alone, on Mars, some 50 million miles away from home settles in.

It is Sol (day) 31 of the mission and Watley says aloud “I'm not gonna die here.”

He begins recording all data, spaceman journaling, if you will, inventorying food, writing down thoughts.

Doing the math. Solving the problems. One at a time.

After taking inventory of the food he realizes he will have to find a way to grow something. The next Ares mission isn't scheduled to arrive on Mars for another four years.

“Luckily, I'm a botanist. Mars'll come to feel my botany powers,” Watney says before he plants a 126 meter garden inside base headquarters.

And so begins his journey, one that doesn't end until day 597.

Obviously the astronaut is an intelligent man, rational, with great reasoning and deductive powers.

It's fascinating to watch Watley tackling all of the issues that arise. As he says midway through the adventure, everything he does on Mars is a first. First man to be alone on the planet. First man to plant a garden. First man to try to figure out how to contact NASA from another planet to let them know he's alive – and the only music he has is Lewis' disco collection. Yeah. Think about it.

Meanwhile, NASA Director Ted Sanders is holding a press conference announcing Watley's death. He adds that part of the next mission will be to bring Watley's body back.

Around sol/day 54 at the Johnson Space Center, Mindy Park is watching images on Mars. Are her eyes deceiving her or is she really seeing proof Watley is alive?

Strategies for rescuing the astronaut take many turns, before the crew of the Hermes are even told Watley is still alive.

Watching him continually strive to survive, to do the math, is engrossing. The indomitable human spirit, that survival instinct is strong in Watley and every success he has you celebrate with him.

NASA comes up with a plan to transport food supplies to Watley, until the they can bring him back to Earth. The spacecraft used to do so is built in a fraction of the time — and, no inspection is done on the craft before it takes off.

Let's just say it doesn't make it too far.

Now, we've all seen the trailers for this film and we know going in that the Hermes crew decides to rescue him — once they are told he's still breathing.

Everything about that last 20-30 minutes of this film are intense. You may find yourself leaning forward in your seat (I was actually resting against the back of the seat in front of me) – the tension is that taut.

Director Ridley Scott has quite the cast along for this ride – the four other astronauts – Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Aksel Hennie and Sebastian Stan and Chastain are believable and their concern for Watley sincere. The scenes in the Hermes, as the cast, er, astronauts, weightlessly, effortlessly float about as though they were really astronauts is so cool.

The sets – the vast red sand covered, mountainous terrain of Mars, the visual effects … stunning. The feeling of desolation produced by the sets, and visual effects, are so well done, you will feel Watley's isolation.

The non-pop elements of the soundtrack are wonderfully evocative of the film's setting and reflect the mood so perfectly. A favorite, and example, is the “Making Water” tune.

“The Martian” opens tonight – Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. Other shows: Saturday, Oct. 31 and Sunday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. (there's an additional 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday as well).