University Space Expert Anticipates Release of ‘The Martian’

FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) – Earlier this week, NASA announced they may have found evidence of liquid water on Mars.
The announcement came right as the movie ‘The Martian’ was released in theaters.
For Vincent Chevrier, space exploration on Mars is a part of his life. Chevrier works for the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences at the University of Arkansas.
“Mars is the most fascinating planet or object in the solar system,” Chevrier said.
When NASA announced it might have found evidence of liquid water on Mars, Chevrier knew it was a big find.
“That was a major step towards the existence of water today on the surface of Mars,” Chevrier said. “Water is very sparse on the surface of Mars. It is not like Earth, where water is pretty much everywhere you go.”
Chevrier said the possibility of water had been considered before.
“But, we didn`t know if there was some possibility for liquid water today,” Chevrier said.
With all the recent talk of life on Mars, Chevrier said the release of ‘The Martian’ couldn`t have come at a better time.
'I’m really looking forward to that [film,] because there is a great director,” Chevrier said.
Those attending the premier said the recent talk of water on Mars also intrigued them to attend the movie screening as well.
“With everything that is going on, with all the talk of the new stuff that is happening, and the possibility of living elsewhere, it has been intriguing,” said Audrey Chancellor, a movie goer.
Chevrier said he hoped the film was somewhat realistic, given the information NASA learned this week.
“The realism is very important,” Chevrier said. “Especially when you want to tackle solar system objects.”
Chevrier said the next great adventure for mankind may be travel to other planets.
“We have been on the moon. The next logical step, even though I can`t tell you when it was going to be, is to go to Mars,” Chevrier said.
Chevrier said he would guess human travel to Mars is still at least 30 years away.