Sao Paulo – Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon, the film “Lost in Mars ” (The Martian) debuted this weekend in Brazil. The film is based on the book written by Andy Weir and tells the story of Mark Whatney, an astronaut who is left behind during an emergency evacuation on the red planet. Presumed dead in the Earth , he is forced to do anything to survive and try, somehow, to return home.
Although categorized as fiction, the film unites her narrative the actual elements of scientific research around Mars. The US space agency ( NASA ) assessed the movie and listed some of the technologies that appear on the big screen, but already materialized or are in full development by scientists. Here are five of them below:
1 – Habitat
stranded on Mars, Whatney spends most of his time on “The Hab”, a sort of house that aims to protect the operators of hostile and extreme conditions of Mars. In real life, says NASA, “The Hab” is called “Hera” (Human Exploration Reserach Analog) and is developed at Johnson Space Center.
According to the agency, “Hera” is an environment of two floors which has spaces for rest, work and hygiene. There, scientists perform operational tests and meet 14-day journey to simulate future missions in isolated locations. Research continues to NASA, aims to evaluate human behavior in these conditions and will also help in developing these operations
2 -. Planting
The agency explains that today, the astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) receive supplies through ships specifically designed for this type of support. “On Mars, humans could not rely on missions to deliver supplies from Earth,” recalls NASA. “To survive, they will have to plant.”
For the agency’s astronauts already have a system capable of producing vegetables out of the earth, the “Veggie”. In August, the crew had dinner one red lettuce dish created for them inside the station and was the first time in history that humans ate food produced in space.
“Veggie” uses a kind of seed pillow is then placed under red and blue lights emitted by LED.O system cultivates vegetables lamps from 2014 but the plants were brought back to Earth for analysis.
The idea going forward, says the agency is that “Veggie” expand its capabilities so that it is possible to produce other types of food that will meet the nutritional needs of humans involved in long-duration missions
3. – Space Costumes
Hostile that is, the atmosphere of Mars requires its explorers are dressed according to their interpéries. To this end, in the film, Whatney spends his days on the red planet in a good enough outfit to make long walks. “So, your dress should be flexible, durable and reliable,” says NASA.
There are different designs of costumes in development by the agency, but all take into account situations involving long walks to the movements so that the astronaut lower to pick up something from the ground.
One challenge is to deal with the dust from the surface of the planet. “The red soil of Mars can affect astronauts and systems inside a spacecraft is taken in.” To this end, scientists are studying a way so that a person can enter inside the ship, leaving the costume outside
4. – Rover
The idea of NASA’s mission to Mars is that once there, the staff stay for twelve months until the alignment of the planets allow the journey back to Earth is shorter. “This will give astronauts enough time to perform their experiments and to explore their surroundings.” But the idea is that they are not limited to a certain distance.
For this reason, a robust, agile and versatile vehicle, like the one used by Whatney in the film is required. Today, the agency works in the Multi-Mission Space Exploration Vehicle (MMSEV), which has been used in similar missions. The technologies that rover are developed with the aim of it to be used in all types of operation: from the landing on asteroids to the exploration on Mars and its moons
5 – Water
<. p> A few weeks ago, the agency said it had discovered evidence that the red planet has liquid water, an essential element for life. “The presence of liquid water on the Martian surface shows that there are environments that are more habitable than previously thought,” said a researcher at the time of the announcement.
In the film, the team of astronauts wastes not a drop and depend on a kind of treatment plant to ensure the supply of drinking water. In real life, this is done on the ISS through the Water Recovery System.
With this system, explains NASA , sweat, urine and even tears are recovered and transformed into water ready for consumption. “Today coffee is the coffee tomorrow,” joked an astronaut agency on board the ISS.
But research this field is far from complete. According to the agency, other water treatment technologies are under development and the idea is that the crews of long-duration missions are independent spare the earth supplies.
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