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WorksheetsHow Did The Martian Movie Do With Science?
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 13mins
The movie included the effects of Mars reduced gravity compared to Earth's.
True, Mar's gravity isn't that different from Earth's, they showed it pretty accurately
False, they made no attempt to include Mar's smaller gravitational attraction.
The movie correctly portrayed the length of time it takes to get from here to Mars.
True, they nailed it. With the technology available today and in the near future, it takes about 8 months travel time.
False, they focused more on the drama of travel and less on the excruciatingly long time it really takes.
The movie showed an accurate portrayal of how Mars travelers will have to make water once they land.
True, the splitting of hydrazine from rocket fuel into hydrogen and combining with cabin oxygen is how it will be done.
False, since the movie was made, our Mars landers have found abundant water ice just under the surface. While we were planning to do it like they showed, we will dig up the ice and melt it for our water.
The movie shows an accurate example of how Martian windstorms will impact humans on Mars.
True, the wind storms produce up to 100 mile per hour winds which produce planet enveloping dust storms.
False, the atmosphere on Mars is very thin, so that the force of the hurricane speed winds will produce no more force than a mild 15 mile per hour wind on Earth.
We will be able to grow our own food on Mars, just like the movie shows.
True, NASA has been using simulated Martian soil growing all kinds of plant in labs for over a decade at Ames Research Center north of us in Mountain View. The only variable not modeled in these tests is the lower gravity of Mars.
False, there is no organic content in Martian soil for the plants to feast upon. The soil is also very sharp edged, which would damage any root system the plants produce.
The part of the movie showing the Astronaut launching from Mars is done correctly.
True, NASA has preliminary plans to use a methane fueled rocket to launch soil samples into orbit for a return trip to Earth. They got the details as correct as we currently know.
False, this notion is rediculous. It will take a much larger and more complex vehicle that this to get off Mars.
The inflated habitat buildings shown in the Martian are just how NASA is planning to do it when we go there.
True, Inflatable habitats are currently the lightest and best option in NASA's plans. The biggest concern is how to tie them down so they don't blow away in the dust storms.
False, because the Martian atmosphere is so thin, it can't protect humans from the intense solar radiation. We will likely use inflatables, however we will have to cover them with several meters of Martian soil for protection.
Mars really has tornadoes as shown in the movie.
True, the NASA rovers Spirit and Opportunity took pictures of these tornadoes (really dust devils) in the mid 2000's and both had their solar panels cleaned of thick Mars dust by them too. Orbiting spacecraft took pictures of their paths through the dust around the rovers too.
False, there is no evidence of anything like this happening from any NASA rover or orbiting spacecraft.
The movie, set in the near future, is realistic and close to what our voyagers will travel in should we go in the next decade or so.
True, the spacecraft is very realistic to current designs. The real thing will look very similar to the movie set.
False, current preliminary designs have far less open space, don't look as cool and will almost certainly not have a spinning cab that makes artificial gravity..
The movie shows that the Astronaut makes a radio from parts off of Pathfinder and Sojourner ( Mars lander from 1997) and communicates with Earth, which could really work.
True, the lander stopped radioing Earth because the batteries ran out of energy. It is possible that the parts are ok and would work and could be repurposed. It might be a risky idea to pin your hope on tho.
False, the lander stopped sending signals to Earth within months of landing. The whole idea is simply fantastical.
The movie had a completely realistic space suit for the crew to wear.
True, they took great pains to get it right and it shows.
False, while space suits have traditionally needed to have carbon dioxide scrubbers to recycle breathable air, in the short time since the movie was made, NASA has done away with that need. So, it was ok when the movie was made but it is no longer right. The suit they showed had lots of seams and folds which would catch a lot of Mars dust, which would wear out the suit quickly. So, a real Mars suit is not going to look like the movie version.
What is the name of the movie?
The Martian
Alone on Mars
Objective Mars
Next step : Mars
What is the name of the actor playing the main character?
Tom Cruise
Samuel L. Jackson
Bruce Willis
Matt Damon
What is the plot of the movie?
The colonization of Mars
The building of a base on Mars
The survival of a man on Mars
The crash of a rocket on Mars
What is the decision of the NASA?
Send a mission to help him
Leave him to die
Use a team already in space to go get him
Use a special rocket that is faster than anything else
How does he create farmable soil?
He uses dirt coming from Mars, add some Earth soil and wait.
He uses dirt coming from Earth and creates waters it.
He uses Martian soil, add Earth soil to get good bacteria in it, then fertilizes it with a mix of human feces.
he is not able to create farmable soil.
What are Mark Watney's two specialties?
chemistry and biology
physics and astronautical engineering
botany and mechanical engineering
What is a day called on Mars?
Sol
Day
Mach
1. What does Mark Watney call himself in relation to Mars?
space pirate
space monkey
space soldier
What happened to Watney's crops in the HAB after the breach in the airlock?
they all died
they sprouted new leaves
they caught on fire
