Are you one of the thousands of people who wonder how it is to live in another planet, say, Mars? Then you have a part answer for that if you're going to watch The Martian.
The Matt Damon starrer talks about an astronaut, Mark Watney, left behind in the red planet for months. But since it's not as easy as any regular commute, he has to fend for himself while waiting for his rescue. To make sure, however, his decisions are believable, the production team has consulted with National Aeronautic Space Agency (NASA). NASA, in its website, also explained many technologies that have been adopted in the movie.
First, people on Mars may be living in Hab, or the habitation module. It isn't grand, but it will allow humans to avoid being exposed to the harsh environment of the planet all the time. NASA's design will feature two stories with living quarters, kitchen, comfort rooms, and workspaces.
So far, the NASA team is developing the right habitation module through HERA (human exploration research analog), which is a simulation where people live for a certain number of days. Not only will this allow the researchers to find out how to design the module, but they can also study human behavior.
Second is food. In the movie, Watney learns to plant potatoes. In reality, NASA does have resupply missions, but it could take several months. Simply put, if one is expected to live in the planet for a very long time, these missions may be unsustainable. The next best option is to grow own food. Right now, the team has successfully grown red romaine lettuce.
The movie also features Mars spacesuits and oxygenator systems, which are necessary for human survival. The NASA's spacesuit will be sufficient for life sustenance but will also be flexible since explorers may have to travel by foot or collect samples for long periods.
For more cool technologies that you may spot in the movie, visit here.