Commander Kit Draper and Colonel Dan McReady embark on a mission to orbit Mars but are forced to make an emergency landing on the planet's surface when their spacecraft malfunctions. After crashing, Draper is left alone with the ship's monkey, Mona, as McReady succumbs to the harsh environment. Struggling to survive, Draper learns to cope with the limited resources available on Mars. He discovers a method to produce oxygen from Martian rock and finds water and food sources to sustain himself. Draper cleverly utilizes his training and ingenuity to adapt to the alien environment.

As Draper continues to survive and explore, he encounters mysterious and dangerous phenomena on Mars. His struggle turns from mere survival to understanding the new world he is stranded on. Along the way, he must fend off threats and face existential and physical challenges. In his solitude, Draper also deals with the psychological impacts of isolation and the constant fight to stay alive. The vast and barren Martian landscape becomes both a sanctuary and a perilous obstacle.