"The Martian" technical questions (Book Spoilers). - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 07:15:54 am
content: I just finished reading "The Martian".I was surprised the way Pathfinder died. I would thought that NASA would have heavy ground planes and the negative lead of the battery directly connected to the probe's chassis. It should prevent the incident.So, I tried to find Pathfinder design, or some guide lines by NASA, without any luck.Any thoughts?Alexander.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 10:48:20 am
content: Quote from: firewalker on September 26, 2015, 07:15:54 amHe took a few liberties hereJust like the main premise of the book that a sand storm damaged everything and forced them to abort. Even a 250kmh wind storm on mars would be like a gentle breeze on earth.

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 11:06:01 am
content: Yeah, I know.But this is the only (?) part of the book, that you can say "Oh, NASA did it wrong if it failed that way".Alexander.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 12:09:33 pm
content: Who's going to see it the day it comes out?I'm waging work to go to the first session this Thursday

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 12:13:09 pm
content: I am planing to see it on Thursday too.Alexander.

author: drws
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 12:34:35 pm
content: I don't read a lot of fiction (of any genre) , I've read King's Runing Man (much better than the movie), Iain.M.Banks' Excession and Sagan's Contact are the only few I remember. All good books I thought.I wouldn't mind trying to get into reading things other than AoE and maths/physics books.Is the Martian a good starting book for someone into nearly all sci-fi? (hate Star Wars sorry, Trek all the way!)

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 01:00:49 pm
content: Yes it is a good book to start. It is not "Star Trek" type sci-fi. The engineering and the science used is ok.Can someone suggest other books? I have read Mark Alpert's "Final Theory".Alexander.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 01:02:29 pm
content: Quote from: drws on September 26, 2015, 12:34:35 pmI generally don't read fiction either. Like you Contact is one of the few.This is an unusual book, it's not really science fiction, it's a first hand account (written mostly in the first person) of trying to survive on Mars using real science on a day-by-day (sol-by-sol) basis. It's like the diary of a nerd explaining stuff to other nerds.

author: drws
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 03:15:14 pm
content: Thanks both, it does sound right up my street. I'll check out Final Theory at the same time as it looks like it's only 1p on Amazon.I prefer sci-fi when it's just a bit beyond reality or set in a plausible future, not where the science is so absurd it pulls you out the moment.Don't know if you've ever listened to the BBC Infinite Monkey Cage podcast, but they were interviewing Sean Carroll, theoretical physicist and science advisor to the movie Thor. Apparently they wanted to make sure the wormhole was convincing for the mystical God with a magic hammer to travel through(Link here if anyone is interested:http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b061qht1)Looks like the Martian movie is using science advisors correctly if the reports I've seen are to be believed.

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 03:21:09 pm
content: May contains spoilers.

author: drws
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 03:29:33 pm
content: They've got one in my local bookshop, off there now.Going to try and finish it before the movie comes out and the stars are all over TV taking about it.Astro physics was part of my course at Uni, I was hoping the Martian would be good but I also hoped red planet and mission to Mars were going to be. Third time lucky.

author: cimmo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 11:37:14 pm
content: If you like your science fiction on the hard side, then The Martian is definitely a mandatory read.Some related videos if you're interested in how the book was written:

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 11:56:17 pm
content: Quote from: firewalker on September 26, 2015, 07:15:54 amYes, I found that part ridiculous, and it made me wonder if I would feel the same way about the rest of the book, if I knew anything about chemistry, botany, etc.However, I still enjoyed the book a lot!

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 09:22:49 am
content: If you are not into reading, trywww.starshipsofa.comas a way to listen. Listener supported, so toss Tony a pound or three to keep him alive. A lot of good stuff there, and I am still working my way through the Sofacon series online., currently at the half way mark.Best so far was the interview with Jerry Pournelle last year. I even booted into Windows ( normally never do so as I use a VM for that) to run the Gotowebinar properly.Just note that if you struggle with Dave's English you will have need a Geordie translator for Tony.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 01:32:37 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on September 27, 2015, 09:22:49 amWait, what? Are you saying Geordies speak English? Well you live and learn...

author: fcb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 01:36:48 pm
content: Just finished "The Martian" book. Very much looking forward to the film.I agree, the drill fault struck me as strange, also be interesting to find out what chemistry those batteries were??

author: HP-ILnerd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2015, 03:08:50 am
content: I've read it three times.Me and a bunch of friends are going to see it opening weekend. Can't wait!Here's a pic of the ISS crew being treated to an early screening. Apparently, they know a guy. The books is popular among astronauts. Kjell Lindgren (on ISS now) said he's read it twice.The technical issues with the story are utterly insignificant compared to most Science Fiction. Except for the storm (an artistic decision), the mistakes are generally fixable (NOT true in most other sci-fi). You'd have to be pretty nerdy to say "the portrayal of the dynamic pressure of Martian wind took me right out of the story. Disappointing. " I'm nerdy, but not quitethatnerdy. I expect some of the technical stuff was toned down a bit in the movie (for obvious reasons) so there may be expanded "grey area" with the flaws. Even "Apollo 13" got stuff wrong and that was a historical event, not fiction!Oh, and here's the exact spot (on the real Mars) where the Ares 3 landing site is. The Hab would be about a 1/10th the size of the big crater. Looksnothinglike the book describes. What the hell?

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2015, 03:23:03 am
content: There will be an announcement by NASA tomorrow that may shed some light on this.

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2015, 08:03:56 am
content: There is also an issue with the solar cells efficiency. The astronaut mentions a ~10% efficiency as something really good. I think NASA's solar cells in better that 20%.What time is the NASA's press conference?Alexander.

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2015, 08:18:31 am
content: is set to take place at 4.30pm GMT,http://www.express.co.uk/news/science/608126/Nasa-s-Mars-announcement-Monday-water-on-mars-life-on-mars

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2015, 09:36:49 am
content: I think it will be Methane related.Alexander.

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2015, 03:43:27 pm
content: so, its official.Alexander.

author: HP-ILnerd
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2015, 04:02:09 pm
content: Quote from: firewalker on September 28, 2015, 08:03:56 amI'm no expert on solar cells, but it was my understanding that solar cells lose efficiency in dimmer light? Mars being about 1.4 AU from the Sun has (obviously) half the light intensity of Earth.

author: firewalker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2015, 04:08:41 pm
content: Should efficiency be stable? It shows how much of the received light is converted. Yes, less light on Mars, less electricity. But the ratio should be stable.Alexander.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2015, 04:16:14 pm
content: Quote from: firewalker on September 28, 2015, 08:03:56 amAnd commercially available PV cells are about 15% efficient. I believe efficiency is independent of solar insolation and efficiency will be best at low (Martian) temperatures.

author: AF6LJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 28, 2015, 04:40:57 pm
content: This looks like a decent movie, I'll have to see it, maybe get the book.Am I the only one who is not surprised that flowing water is on Mars?

author: continuo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2015, 05:00:28 pm
content: No sandworms, no spice?

author: AF6LJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 28, 2015, 05:23:01 pm
content: Quote from: continuo on September 28, 2015, 05:00:28 pmWe Don't Need No Stinking Worm Sh*T..