5 Surprising Things You Can Learn About Solar Power From The Martian

Here’s What Matt Damon & NASA Can Teach You About Solar Panels

The use of solar technology in space is nothing new, with early examples dating back to the Vanguard missions in the 1950’s. Generating electricity from solar panels has been possible for many years, but only recently has the cost of solar come down to a level which the majority of Americans – lower, middle, & upper classes – can afford.

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With limited supplies, Watney must get creative in order to come up with a solution to contact home base on Earth to communicate that he is still alive. Luckily, the planet Mars receives sunlight from the same energy source as Earth – The Sun.

Like many homeowners across Texas, and even more across America, Watney uses solar panels to provide himself with power, and to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.

5 Surprising Things You Can Learn About Solar Power From The Martian

Solar technology works – It really works!

Characters in The Martian use a field of solar panels installed nearby one of their research labs. Even though this movie is science fiction, the method they use to collect sunlight and convert it into electricity is real. Read our Solar FAQs to learn more about how solar panels are used to create power.

Solar panels are built to be strong and can withstand harsh environments
According to NASA Quest, Viking landers in the 1970’s measured winds on Mars as strong as 60 miles per hour. These winds regularly create storms that spread across and cover much of the planet. Yet even after the strong storms in The Martian, solar panels are still fixed to the ground, standing strong and generating electricity.

Regular maintenance of solar panels ensures that they work just as good as new
At one point in the movie, Matt Damon’s character goes outside and is seen wiping off the solar panels that have been covered in debris, dirt and dust. Shortly thereafter he begins communicating with his contacts at NASA located many miles away on Earth.

Solar panels are engineered to work for many, many years
A round trip journey from Earth to Mars and back to Earth takes almost 2 years – it’s approximately 300 days one way. In the solar example of The Martian, the astronauts and the team of scientists at NASA needed a power solution that would last over time. That is, a power system that could withstand the time it takes for missions to come and go from Mars every few years.

What these linear performance warranties mean is that 25-30 years after installed, the solar panel will still be producing 80-85% of their minimum rated power output. In fact, an article posted on Inhabitat.com in 2010 found that the world’s first solar panel was still producing power 60 years after it began working. A lifetime of power, and it comes to you free from the sun with each new day!

Solar panels can also be used to generate fuel for transportation
Damon’s character drives around Mars in a dune buggey-like electric rover. At one point in the story he has to go from one area on the planet to another, so he packs up his solar panels, loads them onto a trailer, and sets out on a trip. We later see him stop, unload the panels and face them toward the sun, plug them into the rover’s electrical system, and then take a nap under the rover as the panels absorb sunlight and recharge his transportation.

Electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf, the Tesla Model S & new Model 3, the Chevy Volt & new Chevy Bolt, and the BMW i3 are becoming more popular as Americans look to decrease dependency on fossil fuels and oil. Just like in The Martian, solar panels can be used to absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity for transportation in an all-electric or plug-in hybrid electric car. You can power your house and your car with sunlight – How cool is that?!

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that solar technology is here, and can help everyone produce their own power for a home, business, even for a vehicle. We encourage you to view this Portfolio of solar panel installations in Texas, educate yourself on how solar works, and contact Alba Energy to request a FREE solar savings analysis!