The main character in 'the martian short story' is an astronaut. He is left alone on Mars due to some unforeseen circumstances and has to rely on his own wits and skills to survive. He is a resourceful person, using his knowledge of science and engineering to overcome the challenges he faces on the red planet.
The main character is an astronaut who gets stranded on Mars.
There is usually a lead character, often an adventurous type, who is brave enough to take on the journey to Mars. There might also be some supporting characters, perhaps other members of the exploration team, who play roles in different parts of the story, like helping with scientific research or dealing with unexpected situations on Mars.
The main character is Mark Watney.
One of the main themes is survival. The protagonist has to find ways to survive on Mars alone. Another theme could be human ingenuity as he uses his knowledge and skills to overcome various challenges.
In 'A Martian Odyssey Short Story', the main plot often involves an exploration of Mars. The protagonist might encounter strange Martian creatures, face unforeseen challenges in the alien environment, and make various discoveries about the planet's unique features.
The main character is the astronaut who is left on Mars. I'm not sure if there are other really prominent characters without looking more closely at the story.
It might also be that the main characters are the spacecraft themselves. For instance, the Mars rovers like Curiosity or Perseverance. These rovers are like the protagonists in the exploration of Mars. They move around the Martian surface, take pictures, analyze samples and send back valuable information. They are designed and built by teams of engineers and scientists, but in a way, they are the ones directly experiencing the Martian environment and are central to the story of Martian exploration.
I'm not entirely sure without reading it specifically, but likely there's an explorer or a scientist as a main character.
Often, the main character is still Mark Watney, the astronaut who was stranded on Mars in the original story. He continues to be the central figure as the fanfiction builds on his experiences.
One of the main characters could be a scientist. When the martian boy falls to earth, the scientist might be the first to discover him. The scientist would be curious about the boy's physiology and technology from Mars. Another character could be a young girl. She could befriend the martian boy and teach him about human emotions and relationships, which are very different from what he has on Mars.
The main characters are the adoptive father and the boy who believes he is from Mars.