Is Mars scientifically accurate?

At “The Martian” in Ridley Scott, the ARes III crew heads to Mars on an exploratory trip. Just as their car lands ascending, the severe dust storm fell, causing the crew to stampede towards the orbits. However, a crew member, Mark Watteni (Matt Damon) suffers from a wreck and leaves behind him dead. The consequences of this is Mark’s attempts to make a communication with NASA, while the sciences of getting out of this position are trying to survive. The smart balance is achieved between It remains authentic scientifically and make these ideas highly concept can be reachedAs Mark’s perseverance carries only fruits because of his knowledge as a plant and a mechanical engineer. But how accurately “Mars?”

To answer this question quickly: It is very accurate. NASA’s jeta lab (JPL) Help breathe the scientific details of the storyWith the use of realistic Mars exploration data to draw a map of the planet’s terrain on the screen and design compatible vehicles with it. Mars Pathfinder, who uses Mark to survive and communicate, was built by JPL to give legitimacy to the technical aspects of this survival story. Even some devices used here are real, including the RTG (which works like a battery) that is used by a mark to survive, as similar energy systems are still used in Mars missions.

However, there is a lot of inaccuracy here and there. This does not necessarily detract from the experience, as the “imaginary” part of science fiction also needs to do some heavy lifting to raise the most buildings on the ground. “Mars” succeeds in doing so, as it is Establish a persistent story tires to a story that dares to challenge expectations. There is a mixed humor with lamentation, the unstable ligament of hope Mark, an arduous journey to the ground. In this memo, let’s take a look at what the film gets and the right about the science concerned from start to finish.

The dirt storm is the catalyst for the events of the movie, but is it a natural event that can happen on Mars? Well, the red planet atmosphere is much thinner than Earth, which means that strong winds (like one in 100 mph) will feel less powerful (about 10-11 miles per hour). If the strongest storm of wind on Mars is not strong enough to drop a human being, then this cannot drop the heavy Mars climbing vehicle (MAV). However, the dirt storm is a wonderful imaginary incentive that leads to the survival of Mark in space.

After that, Mark collects drinking water from missile fuel by separating (dividing the molecules to form other cases of material) in nitrogen and hydrogen. He takes hydrogen and burns it using oxygen inside the cabin to make water. This is not inaccurate, because this will work 100 %, but the person with whom the ways on Mars have a better and faster way to synthesize water. As you can see, the water is abundant on Mars in the form of ice and the regeneration of Trebis, so the soil of the planet is a rich tank that can be used quickly for this purpose. But of course, the separation of missile fuel is great to do (although one of them can destroy all progress).

Now, let’s talk about gravity. Mars has a third of the gravity we experience on Earth, which makes humans and things weigh much less than what they do on Earth. For example, if the rock weighs 100 kilograms on the ground, it will be about 33 kilograms (and thus feel lighter) on Mars. In the movie “The Martian”, this is not taken into account at all, as it seems that all astronauts are exhausted after climbing stairs or wandering in the astronaut equipment. Despite the equipment He is Very heavy on the face of the earth, the movement should not be drawn on Mars, as the less gravity will guarantee less effort.

When all the efforts to save Mark are impossible on the border, the astronomical business scientist Rich Purnell (Donald Glober) suggests a risky plan. It is suggested that the re -latter should stir with the original spacecraft, Hermes (where the Mark crew is at that moment), which will then use the Earth’s gravity to the casting to Mars. Although many things are terriblely mistaken, the Hermes crew succeeds in saving Mark after he inhibits his pressure suit to push himself towards Commander Lewis (Jessica Chastain). This makes an exciting cinematic peak and high riskBut is it possible in practice at all?

yes it is! In fact, this is a realistic method used to accelerate the speed of the spacecraft or redirect its way to save the motivation or reduce costs. This maneuver known as A Gravity Assist is used, and it uses the relative movement (the path of the planet orbit around the sun) and the planetary appeal to simulate the contamination of a sling like those that appear in the movie. Although this method was first used during a Sofiti Luna 3 investigation, Michael Minov (which worked as a pathway in JPL) has developed gravitational aid technology in 1961, which helped increase the speed of the spacecraft below the line. This technology is eventually the leading Voyageer space tasks.

Smaller details about “Mars”, like the time to travel to Mars – which is close to 8 months – a minute as well. Even the flag behind Mark is able to grow potatoes on the soil of Mars is scientifically sound, like It is possible to take care of the vegetation with the soil of the planetBut this also depends on the quality of the chemical and metal content. Let’s just assume that Mark is lucky in some aspects, but all other survival features that he achieves are fully credited. The rest can be placed to the permanent strength of the cinema.