Meet Mark Watney, an astronaut who finds himself stranded on Mars for over a year. He was part of the Ares 3 mission, which was hit by a fierce storm shortly after landing. While the rest of the crew evacuated, Watney was left behind. This is the plot of The Martian, a movie based on Andy Weir’s 2011 novel. The story is known for its scientific accuracy, showing how challenging it is to survive on the red planet. Watney’s journey is a testament to human resilience and ingenuity.
Mars has an atmosphere that is 95% carbon dioxide and about 80 times thinner than Earth’s. This thin atmosphere is almost like a vacuum, which means that if you were exposed to it, your body fluids like saliva and tears would boil away. To survive, Watney lives in a pressurized habitat equipped with an oxygenator and atmospheric regulator. However, even with this technology, living on Mars or in space presents unique challenges.
During the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, astronaut Buzz Aldrin reported seeing strange flashes of light. These were later found to be caused by cosmic rays, which are high-energy charged particles. Cosmic rays can originate from the sun or from outside our solar system, possibly from supernovae. They pass through an astronaut’s eyes, affecting the optic nerve and creating the illusion of flashes of light. This phenomenon is known as cosmic ray visual phenomena. Studies show that astronauts often experience vision problems after space missions due to increased pressure and fluid shifts in their heads, which can alter the structure of the eye.
On Earth, our magnetic field protects us from cosmic rays, as does the International Space Station’s proximity to Earth. However, on long missions like those to Mars, cosmic rays can have more serious effects. In one study, mice exposed to radiation similar to what astronauts would experience on a Mars mission showed changes in their brain cells. They had fewer dendrites, which are branches that help transmit information between cells. This led to confusion and less exploratory behavior. If similar effects occurred in astronauts, it could hinder their problem-solving abilities.
Astronauts face other physical challenges in space, such as losing 1% of their bone density per month, compared to 1% per year on Earth. They also experience sleep disturbances, balance issues, and blood pressure changes, all of which can be stressful. Despite these challenges, astronauts continue to venture into space, often living long and healthy lives. However, we have only traveled as far as the Moon. A mission to Mars would be a new frontier with unknown effects on the human brain and body.
NASA estimates that a manned mission to Mars would take about nine months to reach the planet, with a three-month stay before a nine-month return trip, totaling a 21-month mission. Preparations for such missions are underway. The Mars500 project was an isolation experiment that lasted 520 days in a pressurized facility in Russia, simulating a space mission. Participants underwent psychological evaluations to ensure they could handle the isolation and confinement.
The European Space Agency identifies key traits for astronauts, such as tolerance, empathy, a balance between group and alone time, and a sense of humor. NASA adds that good social skills and resilience are important. These traits are evident in Mark Watney’s character in The Martian, as well as in real-life astronauts who have faced space emergencies, like the Apollo 13 oxygen tank explosion or the Hubble Space Telescope repair.
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Imagine you are an astronaut like Mark Watney. Design a habitat that could sustain human life on Mars. Consider the challenges mentioned in the article, such as the thin atmosphere and cosmic rays. Use materials from around your home to create a model, and write a short explanation of how your habitat addresses these challenges.
Conduct a simple experiment to understand cosmic rays. Use a cloud chamber kit to visualize particle trails, similar to cosmic rays. Research how cosmic rays affect astronauts and write a brief report on your findings, including how these rays impact the human brain and vision.
Form groups and role-play a Mars mission. Assign roles such as commander, engineer, and scientist. Discuss how you would handle emergencies like those faced by Mark Watney. Focus on teamwork and problem-solving skills, and reflect on the traits of successful astronauts mentioned in the article.
Learn about the effects of space on bone density by conducting a simple experiment. Use chicken bones and vinegar to simulate bone density loss. Record your observations over a week and relate them to the challenges astronauts face in maintaining bone health during long missions.
Watch the movie The Martian and discuss its scientific accuracy. Identify scenes that relate to the challenges discussed in the article, such as radiation and habitat design. Write a short essay on how the movie portrays human resilience and ingenuity in space exploration.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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This is Mark Watney. He’s an astronaut who’s been living on Mars for just over a year—an Earth year. Watney didn’t intend to stay on Mars for that long. He was part of the Ares 3 mission, which was hit by a violent storm soon after landing. The rest of the crew evacuated, and Watney was left behind. This is the story of *The Martian*, a film based on Andy Weir’s 2011 novel. The novel and film are quite scientifically accurate. Living on the red planet isn’t easy, and Watney does an amazing job of surviving on Mars, despite the odds.
The atmosphere on Mars is 95% carbon dioxide and is about 80 times thinner than Earth’s atmosphere. It’s as good as a vacuum for your vitals. If you were exposed to the atmosphere, your saliva, tears, skin moisture, and the water in the alveoli of your lungs would boil away. So, Watney lives in a pressurized environment with an oxygenator and atmospheric regulator. But even with this equipment, there are still many unusual things that can happen to you if you live on Mars or elsewhere in space.
During the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, Buzz Aldrin reported seeing strange flashes of light. Later experiments found that high-energy charged particles, which make up cosmic rays, were causing astronauts, including Buzz, to perceive these flashes. Cosmic rays are a form of radiation, typically very high-energy and often composed of protons. Some originate from our sun, while others come from outside our solar system, possibly from the supernovae of massive stars. The light flashes perceived by astronauts are called cosmic ray visual phenomena. The thing is, the light flashes aren’t real; you can’t see cosmic rays. They pass through the astronaut’s eyes, affect their optic nerve, and make them think they are seeing flashes of light. Studies have found that astronauts often have poorer vision after space flight. Increased pressure and fluid shifts in their heads can cause structural changes in the eye.
On Earth, our magnetic field protects us against radiation from cosmic rays. It protects astronauts on the International Space Station too, which is only about 400 km away. But on further missions, like those to Mars, cosmic rays can affect more than just vision. In one study, researchers exposed mice to small doses of the kind of radiation people would experience on a nine-month trip to Mars. After six weeks, the researchers noticed changes in the structure of the mice’s brain cells. They had fewer dendrites, the little branches that carry electrical pulses of information from cell to cell. The mice became confused more easily and were less likely to explore. The researchers suggested that if this happened in astronauts, it could impair their problem-solving abilities.
Tests have also shown that astronauts can lose 1% of their bone density per month in space, compared to the 1% we lose a year on Earth. They experience disturbances in sleep, balance, and blood pressure, which all add up to be quite stressful. Astronauts are incredibly brave, and despite all this, they go into space regularly, with many living very long lives. However, we’ve only been as far away as the Moon. What would happen if people traveled to Mars? There’s a lot of interest in going, from NASA’s Orion spacecraft to SpaceX’s Mars Colonial Transporter, but remember that Mark Watney is a fictional character. We haven’t been there yet, and we don’t know what it might do to our brains—psychologically or physiologically.
According to NASA, a manned mission to Mars would take roughly nine months to get there and nine months to return. The astronauts would have to stay on Mars for three months before Earth and Mars realign for a return trip. So, we’re looking at a 21-month mission. We have started preparing for a manned Mars mission. Mars500 was an isolation experiment that ran for 520 days in a pressurized facility in Russia. From 2007 to 2011, three crews lived and worked in a mock spacecraft. Mars500 was the longest simulated space mission ever.
As missions increase in distance and duration, there’s a constant dependence on automated life-support systems, a higher degree of isolation and confinement, and the lack of short-term rescue possibilities in case of emergencies. The astronauts on this mission underwent extensive psychological evaluations before, during, and after the mission. The European Space Agency described the most useful personality traits for an astronaut as tolerance, sympathy, balance in time spent in a group and alone, and a sense of humor. These are some traits looked for in astronaut selection. NASA psychologists add that good astronaut candidates are easygoing, have good social skills, and are very resilient.
Going back to *The Martian*, we can see these traits in Mark Watney. His resilience, easygoing nature, and sense of humor all contribute to his story. We can also see these traits in astronauts during real-life space dramas, like when Apollo 13’s oxygen tank exploded or when astronauts had to fix Hubble’s faulty mirror. There is some exhilarating science behind these two space “rescues.” Follow me over to Physics Girl, where Dianna explores the most epic space rescues in history. And subscribe to BrainCraft for a new brainy episode every week.
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This version removes any informal language, personal references, and maintains a professional tone throughout.
Mars – The fourth planet from the Sun in our solar system, known for its reddish appearance. – Scientists are studying Mars to understand if it could support human life in the future.
Atmosphere – The layer of gases surrounding a planet, which is crucial for supporting life. – Earth’s atmosphere protects us from harmful solar radiation and helps regulate temperature.
Cosmic – Relating to the universe or outer space, especially beyond Earth’s atmosphere. – Cosmic events like supernovae can release vast amounts of energy into space.
Rays – Streams of particles or waves, such as light or radiation, that travel through space. – Ultraviolet rays from the Sun can cause sunburn if we don’t protect our skin.
Radiation – The emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles. – Radiation from the Sun is essential for life on Earth, providing light and warmth.
Brain – The organ in animals that serves as the center of the nervous system, responsible for processing sensory information. – The human brain is capable of complex thought and problem-solving.
Cells – The basic structural and functional units of living organisms. – Plant cells have a rigid cell wall that provides structure and support.
Density – The measure of mass per unit volume of a substance. – The density of water is 1 gram per cubic centimeter, which is why ice floats on water.
Astronauts – People trained to travel and work in space. – Astronauts aboard the International Space Station conduct experiments in microgravity.
Challenges – Difficult tasks or problems that require effort and determination to overcome. – One of the challenges of space travel is ensuring astronauts have enough food and water for long missions.
