Let's get the big one out of the way nice and early: The dust storm that sets everything in motion at the start of the movie is not accurate. Although Mars does get dust storms, the atmospheric pressure is so low that the wind is negligible, although the dust itself can be harmful.

Why is the dust storm a problem for Watney?

When faced with a larger dust storm in the book, Watney's first hint is the decreased efficiency of his solar panels, caused by a slight darkening of the atmosphere. That's a pretty accurate depiction of what large dust storms can do, Smith said.

What does the dust storm symbolize in The Martian?

The dust storm that Watney must circumnavigate on his way to Schiaparelli represents the danger of the unknown. Watney does not notice when he enters the storm, and the further he drives into the storm…

Why are storms so bad on Mars?

On Mars, dust devils and storms can arise just about anywhere because the planet is dry and dusty nearly everywhere we have looked. Billions of years of weathering—probably from ancient water and more recently by perpetual sand-blasting from wind-driven storms—have created a planet covered in grit and dust.

What causes Martian dust storms?

The relatively dark martian soil and rock absorb more solar radiation than the relatively light ice caps, which remain at a constant temperature due to the sublimation of their carbon dioxide. The resulting large difference in temperature causes strong winds to flow around and off the ice.

NASA Scientists Fact-Check “The Martian"

Why were the dust storms so bad?

A combination of aggressive and poor farming techniques, coupled with drought conditions in the region and high winds created massive dust storms that drove thousands from their homes and created a large migrant population of poor, rural Americans during the 1930s.

Is the storm in the Martian realistic?

Unlike dust devils on Earth and depicted in the movie, actual Martian dust devils are wispy and thin and form from the ground up. This differs to those shown in the movie as they descend from clouds but there just simply isn't enough atmosphere for that to actually occur as tornadoes do on Earth.

Is Mars dust toxic?

Martian soil is toxic, due to relatively high concentrations of perchlorate compounds containing chlorine. Elemental chlorine was first discovered during localised investigations by Mars rover Sojourner, and has been confirmed by Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity.

What are Martian dust devils?

Dust devils (convective vortices loaded with dust) are common at the surface of Mars, particularly at Jezero crater, the landing site of the Perseverance rover. They are indicators of atmospheric turbulence and are an important lifting mechanism for the Martian dust cycle.

Can you breathe on Mars?

According to ESA, Mars' atmosphere is composed of 95.32% carbon dioxide, 2.7% nitrogen, 1.6% argon and 0.13% oxygen. The atmospheric pressure at the surface is 6.35 mbar which is over 100 times less Earth's. Humans therefore cannot breathe Martian air.

What is the main message of The Martian?

The main message of The Martian is that human determination and ingenuity can overcome seemingly impossible challenges.

What do the potatoes symbolize in The Martian?

In this way, the potatoes symbolize the tenacity of life, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

What killed the plants in The Martian?

In The Martian, when Watney accidentally exposes his farm to Mars's cold temperatures, his potato plants freeze to death almost instantly. As mentioned earlier, Mars's open air is just too cold for plants to survive.

What is the main problem in The Martian?

The main conflict of The Martian is Mark Watney getting stuck on Mars while his crew mates and the rest of Earth think he's dead. That is called dramatic irony and there is a lot of it this book. In The Martian, Mark is fighting against Mars to survive.

What is the biggest error in the movie The Martian?

Factual errors

Due to Mars' low atmospheric pressure, the effective wind pressure in martian wind storms is much lower than shown in the movie, very unlikely to be sufficient to tip a spacecraft. Also, the wind on Mars is much too weak to carry large rocks.

What injury did Watney sustain during the storm in The Martian?

The next day, or Sol (a Martian day), Watney wakes up injured, makes his way back to the camp's HAB (Habitat), and performs surgery on himself to remove an antenna that impaled him in the abdomen during the storm.

How bad are the dust storms on Mars?

Most dust storms cover an area for a few days and carry small particles of dust at speeds of 33 to 66 miles per hour. Sometimes, though rarely, dust storms on Mars can be fierce enough to cover the entire planet in a dusty haze for weeks.

Are dust devils evil?

Dust devils are usually harmless, but can on rare occasions grow large enough to pose a threat to both people and property. They are comparable to tornadoes in that both are a weather phenomenon involving a vertically oriented rotating column of wind.

What is the meaning of Martian dust?

Mars dust forms by the weathering of rocks over long periods of time. This happens as winds, including dust devils, blow around sand and loose particles.

Would your blood boil on Mars?

If you tried to breathe on the surface of Mars without a spacesuit supplying your oxygen – bad idea – you would die in an instant. You would suffocate, and because of the low atmospheric pressure, your blood would boil, both at about the same time.

What happens if you breathe in Mars dust?

Some material on Mars may be carcinogenic (known to cause cancer), and other particles might cause lung conditions like silicosis (respiratory disease caused by breathing in silicants).

What does Mars dust smell like?

The atmosphere on Mars is mostly carbon dioxide. However, the dirt is primarily iron oxide, which gives its ochre tint, much like central Australia. The atmosphere also has sulfur and acids. This means Mars would most likely have a desert-like acid smell, with some interesting overtones.

What was unrealistic about The Martian movie?

The most unrealistic thing about the film “The Martian” is the only unrealistic thing about it: the dust storm at the beginning. Dust storms on Mars cannot get strong enough to cause those kinds of problems.

Where is the F word in The Martian movie?

At about the 23:30 mark there is a "F you, Mars." One use of 'Jesus' at 23:35.

Was there a body double in The Martian?

Matt Damon Used A Body Double Instead Of Going Christian Bale For The Martian - IMDb. It's not uncommon for an actor to change their body for a role. If they're portraying a professional athlete for instance, they may want to get into peak physical condition in order to better embody the character.