The Martian is a science fiction film based on the original novel The Martian by Andy Weir. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and thought it was inspiring and entertaining, however I most enjoyed the film’s visuals. The scenery was breathtaking, so much so, that it left me wondering if that is actually what Mars looks like? Upon further research I learned that the film was scientifically correct about a lot. However some of the inaccuracies do serve to poke holes in the films plot.

The first inaccuracy has to do with the windstorm at the beginning of the film. Although Mars is a dry planet prone the occasional dust storm, Martian storms are very different from the storms we have here on earth. Because the atmosphere is so thin on Mars even the fastest winds would only have the impact of an 18km/h wind here on earth, which would not be enough to send and antennae through Matt Damon’s abdomen.

The film’s second inaccuracy has to do with the health of the astronauts. Due to Mars’ lack of a global geomagnetic field the scientists in the planet are at a greatly increased risk of cancer, so the fact that they all seem to be healthy is quite remarkable. This skepticism can easily be explained away by UV-proof space suits, which could be plausible in 2035.

The last scientific inaccuracy has to do with the maps used in the film, which are outdated and no longer in use.

All in all, considering that these were some of the only inaccuracies in the film, it did a pretty good job of staying true to science.