A still of The Martian. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Kinberg adds that NASA members had become "huge fans" of the book before 20th Century Fox purchased the rights.

Scott even called NASA when he wanted answers to technical questions.

As for Damon he says: "The most interesting thing about the movie is that the tale is not something beyond imagination, but something that could really happen in the future."

One of the common questions at the promotional event related to the value placed on human life in the film.

This is reflected in a scene when Mark Watney (the astronaut played by Damon) says: "The cost for my survival must have been hundreds of millions of dollars. All to save one dorky botanist. Why bother?"

The movie conveys a message that human life takes precedence over financial concerns, and shows how the world gains more knowledge through the protagonist's fight for survival on a remote planet.

As Chen says: "Just like the values depicted in the movie Saving Private Ryan, I believe it's worth all the money and staff to rescue Watney, especially with China's support."

Coincidentally, Damon played the title role of Ryan in the 1998 war epic Saving Private Ryan. Now 17 years after his character was rescued in that movie, it seems that goodness in the world has not disappeared.