To reach Mars, the rocket must launch from Earth at just the right time, speed, and direction so your orbit around the Sun is on a collision course with Mars. But during the orbit, you will drift through space with Newton and the Sun driving. During the launch and landing, you will use rocket fuel.

If you travel to Mars, there are three legs of your journey: (1) the launch from Earth (2) the orbit around the Sun and (3) the landing on Mars. HereвЂ™s a primer on a few of the topics that make вЂњThe MartianвЂќ so engaging. When the main character, Mark Watney, hits the big screen later tonight, our FYS class will be there to enjoy both the science and science-fiction. вЂњThe MartianвЂќВ is like a combination of вЂњ Apollo 13вЂќВ andВ вЂњ Cast Away.вЂќ With in-depth description of science, from physics and astronomy to chemistry, botany, and geology, WeirвЂ™s book grabs both the mind and soul. In a contemporary, yet classic, survival story,В вЂњ The MartianвЂќВ documents the struggle of astronaut Mark Watney to withstand the barrage of life-ending threats thrown by Mars. With NASA announcing evidence for water flowing on present-day MarsВ just three days ago, and with todayвЂ™s release of the filmВ вЂњ The MartianвЂќ starring Matt Damon, this is the perfect time to engage students and the public with Martian science (which is the same science as everywhere else in the Universe). In our quest to answer the question, вЂњAre we alone in the Universe?вЂќ my First Year Seminar (FYS) class at High Point University recently read the bookВ вЂњ The MartianвЂќ by Andy Weir. Aaron Titus, chair of the High Point University Department of Physics

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