An astronaut is stranded alone on Mars after an accident and has to fight for survival. As a botanist, he uses his knowledge of plants to grow potatoes in the Mars station - using the Martian soil as a substrate and the crew's excrement as fertiliser. He obtains water by splitting the remaining rocket fuel into hydrogen and oxygen in a chemical reaction and then burning them in a controlled manner. To ensure his mobility, he repairs the damaged rover and heats the cabin using a radioisotope generator. He manages to communicate with Earth via the camera of the old Pathfinder rover - with handwritten characters on blackboards.
This dramatic survival scenario is the subject of the book and film The Martian. But how realistic is it? Which elements are based on scientific facts - and what is pure Hollywood fiction?
Together with Science Team Böblingen, Professor of Astronautics and Exploration Claas Olthoff analyses the film and sheds light on what is really possible - and what belongs more in the realm of fantasy.
You can find the exciting video on YouTube:
🎥 „The Martian – Scientifically correct or all made up?“
