Steampunk Granny's Review of The Martian

                                                           

I’m going to say right up front that I believe in the Space Program and I feel strongly that we should be investing in going to other planets instead of destroying the one we live on with wars and unbridled pollution. Now, I’ll tell you why I absolutely loved the Ridley Scott film, The Martian, starring Matt Damon. The film is based on Andy Weir’s 2011 novel of the same name.
                                                               

Growing up in the early fifties, my generation was introduced to the theory of space travel, aliens and the pros and cons of both. We had Flash Gordon to lead the way on our little tiny television screens. You can only imagine my joy when a human first set foot on the moon. That said, with all our science and technology, we land lubbers, who neither travel deep within the ocean or fly high in space shuttles, have no idea what to expect if we were able to go to Mars.

Plot

The action starts when the Ares III, a manned mission on Mars, is hit by an intense storm. Mars is not the friendliest of planets, but then again, neither is Earth. Mark Watney (Matt Damon), a botanist, is separated from the rest of the crew. The Captain Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain) and the others fear him dead. They are forced to evacuate the planet before their ship is damaged beyond repair. While they travel the long journey back home, they are unaware that Mark is alive.

Conclusion

I don’t want to say any more about the film, except that it is extremely well done and I really enjoyed it.  You are right there with Mark as he realizes his dilemma; not enough food to survive until another ship can return. We cringe with fear when things are not going well for our astronaut and we celebrate with him when he succeeds. The scenery of Mars and space is breathtaking. The Martian is the first realistic film that shows what it will take to survive on another world.
                                                             

Is it important to support our Space Program? Yes! It’s one thing to send up a probe to take samples of an alien planet’s soil, but we also need to send up a human. Is it unreasonable to expect humans to live on Mars? Maybe...and yet...this is what we, as an intelligent species, must do. We were always meant to leave this planet and find new homes.  Exploration is wired into us. We are engineered to go forth and as explore. Go see the film. You’ll love it.

                                                               

Meteors, Asteroids and Zombies

                                                                   

Okay, is anyone else a little spooked by the large rock that made a drive by, last week? No not the meteor that exploded over Russia, for which I’m sending out my sympathy and prayers to the poor souls of the Chelyabinsk region.

                                                                           
 No, I’m talking about that big asteroid that not only passes us each year, but gets closer and closer with each yearly drive by. Do you know that NASA keeps a list of the most dangerous asteroids? In fact there is one that goes by the name of 2012DA14. See that number 14 at the end? I think it’s a secret code for either “Holy dog doo Batman” or “Give my regards to planet Earth”

This asteroid is capable of doing to us what its older brother did to the dinosaurs that weren’t already extinct.

                                                                                                                                
It’s large enough to terminate most life on earth, although I’m pretty certain that politicians and roaches will survive the blast. No, I’m not singling out the Tea Party, but all political parties, and that leads to my discussion on zombies.

                                                                    

The strange goings on in Congress has me worried that the zombie apocalypse is already here. I’m not talking about the drooling, shuffling, brain eating zombie. No! Those zombies we can handle. I’m talking about the clueless people on Capitol Hill. How else could you explain the strange phenomenon where supposedly intelligent people go loopy as soon as they give notice that they’re running for office. They are zombies! It’s the only explanation.

                                                                              
Oh, and just in case that Russian meteor was carrying the zombie virus, Canada is now preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse. Honest, it was in the news. Three cheers for our neighbors to the North.

What does this have to do with the asteroid? Everything and I’ll start with this question, “Are we prepared to survive a full scale disaster from an asteroid?” One can only hope, but…with some of the people in congress not even believing in climate change or evolution, I’m afraid that our days are numbered.

                                                                   

Gilbert to NASA and Beyond

                                                                     

Okay, so I love the Space Program; loved it since Sputnik was sent up by the Russians. Loved that our country was able to get their act together and have the best Astronauts and rockets in the world. I love that we were the first to land on the moon.

                                                                           

 Why we stopped sending men to the moon, I don’t know, but the government stopped. There could have been a mall up there by now, but they stopped. I love NASA and all the bright men and women in the space program. They have made it possible for us to look beyond this little blue marble. We have a chance to visit the stars and our future.

Anyway the other day, while in the car, I was listening to NPR’s host Jacki Lyden on All things Considered speaking with Brian Shiro who wants to be an astronaut and has a webpage called Astronaut for hire. So I checked out his site. I will be cheering for Brian Shiro to reach his goal.

                                                                         

I’ve been following Elon Musk, CEO for Tesla Motors and Space X because if we’re ever going to make space exploration attainable for all people, this is the man to keep your eye on (Three cheers for the Dragon). The vision and know how is there and with popular support and understanding, even I might become an astronaut.

Okay, don’t go rolling those eyes! Just because I’m a mature woman, doesn’t mean that I can’t handle adventure, I’m a kid a heart and to prove it, I’m going to contact Astronauts4hire and put in my application. Yes, my little Moon Rocks, I’m going to try and get on the next rocket out of here.

Hey, I could prove valuable for any long term space travel. For example, I have nine grandchildren and I’m good at distracting them and keeping them entertained, especially on long rides. Any space shuttle with me aboard will never be dull and no space traveler will arrive to the Moon in a grumpy mood.

                                                                                                                                    

I’m good at calming people down, and if there are any squabbles between the astronauts because of the tedious routines of space flight, then my "granny stare of death” will put a quick end to that.

                                                                       

So I’m going to practice on weightlessness and G force training. The G force training I have covered. I can burn rubber when idling at a traffic light to equal 3 times the force of gravity or like the astronauts like to say, “3Gs.

                                                                     

              As for weightlessness, getting my grandson out of a tree; works for me.

                                                              

The Space Program is mankind’s one chance at taking that giant step forward and with the technology and jobs this program returns for the initial investment, we would be foolish not to support it.

                                                                         

Anyway, I’m sending in my application and I’ll keep you posted and too add a smile to your day, here is a great song.   http://youtu.be/2Sar5WT76kE