Sunday, October 25, 2015

Martian

The movie is extremely simple but that's the whole point - the simple things we take for granted are the most precious once we break the escape velocity threshold.  Mark Watney can easily "chat" with his colleagues on the blue plant but growing a potato plant in Mars can be little challenging.




Bruce Bugbee piece on Farming on Mars Is Not Science Fiction is worth a read:

Our early studies indicate an enormous psychological value of plants. Mark Watney reminisced about living with his potato plants. He missed them after they were gone. When hardened astronauts return to Earth, they repeatedly tell us of the bond they developed with the plants they were growing. Ten years ago, after almost a year in space, a cosmonaut summarized his psychological experience at a press conference: "Long-term space travel without plants is impossible."

There is much we can learn from small-scale biological life support systems where changes occur rapidly. Perhaps Mark Watney's adventures will inspire the youth of the nation to continue our work.


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