"The Martian" - Mcgyver in space.

[BobL]

I haven't read the book but according to a few science and engineering friends of mine the book is highly accurate.
It's called The Martian and comes out real soon as a movie, stars Matt Damon.
Trailer
https://youtu.be/Ue4PCI0NamI
A good description is apparently - Mcgyver in Space - lots of nerdy tech.

[Vann]

I heard the book reviewed on the radio many months ago. I had to order in a copy, as it was just some obscure book. I quite enjoyed it, but it seemed too calm and matter-of-fact to ever make a movie. How wrong was I? Going to see it with my 23yo son this weekend - and my 14yo daughter (who finds dad to be too embarrassing) even wants to come along (she saw the trailer and the last teenage movie she went to).

I'm looking forward to being disappointed (the movie is always disappointing if you've read the book first).

Cheers, Vann.

[BobL]

I looked at a a couple of interviews and presentations by the author (Andy Wier) about the book and movie.
Andy is a funny quirky guy. I found this one pretty interesting https://youtu.be/2tfh6OUUYUw

[YBAF]

Yeah, but is it as good as Lost In Space. ​:U

When the series Lost in Space came out I thought we'd all have personal robots in a couple of years. Oh well, maybe when I'm 90...

[familyguy]

Saw the pre-release screener last night, not a pirate version but as a prize in the Current Affair "Martian" competition (Current Affair still going in Adelaide). Wife has read the book and says it is reasonably true to the book but quite a bit of the technical chemistry stuff was omitted, it went over her head in the book and most probably would have on the screen as well.

[Master Splinter]

Mcgyver in Space? Wasn't that a TV series called Stargate????

[simonl]

I've seen the shorts and I admitt, I have to see it. In any case, there arn't too mant Matt Damen movies that I don't like.

I get the impression that something goes wrong with a first mission to Mars and he ends up with limited (I heard 50 days) of food. Looks like he experiments with crops etc. to grow food. I'd be interested to know the minimum square metre area required on Mars to produce enough food for both nutrients and calorific content to keep a person alive.

I assume there are no animals to eat, relying only on vegetable matter. Not exactly energy dense in nature….. I'm yet to see an obese vegen!

Can't wait to see it!

Simon

[Master Splinter]

I'd be interested to know the minimum square metre area required on Mars to produce enough food for both nutrients and calorific content to keep a person alive.

The area required is quite big - you'll find the detailed calculations here - http://ccar.colorado.edu/asen5050/projects/projects_2001/benoit/solar_irradiance_on_mars.htm

My reading on that (assuming Earth as 1kw/square meter) is that you'd need a garden area roughly 30 times larger than the earth equivalent if using stock-standard Earth plants and not selecting (or developing) high efficiency algae or whatnot.

On top of that you'd need the power to run environmental control for your farm.

[YBAF]

If you haven't yet grazed utube for this subject this is a good presentation with the author Andy Weir...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2tfh6OUUYUw

[simonl]

The area required is quite big - you'll find the detailed calculations here - http://ccar.colorado.edu/asen5050/projects/projects_2001/benoit/solar_irradiance_on_mars.htm

My reading on that (assuming Earth as 1kw/square meter) is that you'd need a garden area roughly 30 times larger than the earth equivalent if using stock-standard Earth plants and not selecting (or developing) high efficiency algae or whatnot.

On top of that you'd need the power to run environmental control for your farm.

Thanks. I also watched the Youtube clip that YBAF attached. I think it's the first time I sat through a youtube video that lasted longer than 5 minutes! He is very witty and entertaining. Interesting to note that he talks about all the scietific faults of the movie but never mentions the food issue.

Simon

[BobL]

Thanks. I also watched the Youtube clip that YBAF attached. I think it's the first time I sat through a youtube video that lasted longer than 5 minutes! He is very witty and entertaining. Interesting to note that he talks about all the scietific faults of the movie but never mentions the food issue.

He obviously can't cover everything even in a one hour presentation.
He has considered the food issue and it is being widely discussed on the Web
eg http://modernfarmer.com/2015/10/can-you-grow-plants-on-mars/


If you haven't yet grazed utube for this subject this is a good presentation with the author Andy Weir...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2tfh6OUUYUw

Thats the same as the link I posted earlier.

[YBAF]

Thats the same as the link I posted earlier.

Apologies BobL, I missed your second link. :(


Hearing Andy Weir tell his story certainly shows the point well of try, try again. Certainly an inspirational story and his success looks well deserved... and there's yet a movie to see.. :cool:

[RayG]

If you haven't yet grazed utube for this subject this is a good presentation with the author Andy Weir...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2tfh6OUUYUw


Thanks for that link, good stuff.

[simonl]

He obviously can't cover everything even in a one hour presentation.
He has considered the food issue and it is being widely discussed on the Web
eg http://modernfarmer.com/2015/10/can-you-grow-plants-on-mars/



Thats the same as the link I posted earlier.

Well it wasn't my intent to poo poo the book/movie. In any case there is obviously an awful lot of science at play that I am ignorant of. I didn't realise they can liberate oxygen from the atmosphere indefinitely with those packs. He's a cracking person to listen to and he deserves every success. So impressed with the whole concept of the movie/book, my wife and I intend to see it next week in Gold Class!

Simon

[BobL]

Well it wasn't my intent to poo poo the book/movie.

I didn't take it that way :)

Trying to convince SWMBO to go (since that would count as taking her out to the movies - I rarely go - she loves it) but she fell off her horse last week and hurt her back. She went for a gentle ride last Friday and now she's laid up and grumpy as hell . . . . . . .

[simonl]

I didn't take it that way :)

Trying to convince SWMBO to go (since that would count as taking her out to the movies - I rarely go - she loves it) but she fell off her horse last week and hurt her back. She went for a gentle ride last Friday and now she's laid up and grumpy as hell . . . . . . .

That's no good. My sister has a bad back from years of falling of her horses……… but shes unco anyway!

It took me 10 years a marrage to realise the moto "happy wife.. happy life" or, as I put it only just today: Miserable life…. happy wife!:D

Simon