As NASA gets ready to launch the Artemis II mission – sending astronauts back to the moon after more than 50 years – the crew discussed their favorite space-themed movies. Their choices were diverse, including realistic portrayals like Apollo 13 and The Right Stuff, humorous options like Galaxy Quest, and iconic films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey. However, the astronauts particularly praised The Martian, a more recent film by Ridley Scott based on Andy Weir’s novel, for its accurate depiction of science, even though it’s a work of fiction.
CNN recently asked 11 astronauts about their favorite movies set in space, and many of them chose The Martian. The film stars Matt Damon as Dr. Mark Watney, a botanist and engineer stranded on Mars after his team accidentally leaves him behind. The movie then follows his struggle to survive until NASA can figure out how to bring him home.
Clayton C. Anderson, a former International Space Station resident who spent five months there in 2007, felt that the movie The Martian accurately portrayed the spirit of teamwork and collaboration. He highlighted the dedication of NASA employees, who often make significant sacrifices to achieve their goals. Anderson confirmed the film’s realism, stating that successful missions always prioritize crew safety, vehicle integrity, and achieving the mission’s objectives.
Dr. Kate Rubins, another NASA scientist and the first person to sequence DNA in space after spending 300 days orbiting Earth, also praised the scientific accuracy of The Martian. She highlighted how the movie realistically portrays using biology and chemistry to create necessary resources from available materials. Rubins emphasized that this kind of resourcefulness – like growing food or producing essential items – is crucial for space missions, reducing the need to depend on shipments from Earth.
The Martian Production Worked With NASA Directly
It’s not surprising that NASA loved the movie The Martian – they actually collaborated with the filmmakers! When the book was first released, NASA gave author Peter Weir a tour of their Johnson Space Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Later, when Ridley Scott and producer Mark Huffam began making the film, they contacted NASA’s Bert Ulrich, who serves as their film and television consultant.
As a critic, I was really impressed with the level of scientific accuracy in The Martian, and it’s fascinating to learn just how much NASA was involved. They didn’t just offer a thumbs-up; they actively helped director Ridley Scott and his team. James L. Green and Dave Lavery, key figures at NASA, became on-set consultants. Before cameras even rolled, Scott spoke with Green twice, and that opened the floodgates – the production team peppered NASA with hundreds of technical questions, all answered by experts. Even the set design was informed by a deep dive – production designer Arthur Max got an eight-hour tour of the Johnson Space Center to ensure everything felt authentic.
Similar to how the movie Top Gun successfully encouraged people to join the military, NASA hoped The Martian would generate excitement and support for a future mission to Mars.
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2026-02-03 18:11