Question

part 1: guided viewing comparison (individual or pairs)
students complete the chart below using specific moments from each film.

category	hidden figures	the martian
who is involved in solving it?
type of science/math used
time pressure involved
obstacles within nasa (bureaucracy, tech limits, communication)
how teamwork contributes to success

Explanation:

To complete the chart, we analyze each film:

1. Hidden Figures

• Main problem NASA must solve: Successfully launch and orbit John Glenn (ensure orbital calculations for a safe mission).
• Who is involved: Katherine Johnson (mathematician), Dorothy Vaughan (computer/engineer), Mary Jackson (engineer), other NASA scientists/engineers.
• Type of science/math used: Orbital mechanics, calculus, geometry (for trajectory calculations).
• Time pressure: Tight deadline before Glenn’s launch (hours/days to verify calculations).
• Obstacles within NASA: Racial segregation (limited access to resources, bureaucratic bias), early computing tech limitations.
• How teamwork contributes: Katherine’s math, Dorothy’s programming, Mary’s engineering, and colleagues’ collaboration to integrate data.

2. The Martian

• Main problem NASA must solve: Rescue Mark Watney (stranded on Mars) by adjusting mission plans, launching a supply mission, and coordinating a return trajectory.
• Who is involved: Mark Watney (astronaut/scientist), NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, mission control, Ares 3 crew (later), international space agencies.
• Type of science/math used: Astrophysics, botany (Watney’s self-sustainment), orbital mechanics, calculus (trajectory optimization).
• Time pressure: Watney’s limited food/water (solves over ~500 days), rescue window tied to Mars-Earth alignment.
• Obstacles within NASA: Tech limits (launch failures, communication delays), bureaucratic debates over mission risks.
• How teamwork contributes: Watney’s ingenuity + NASA’s global collaboration (e.g., China’s rocket, crew’s orbital adjustments).

You can now fill these details into the chart for each category!

Answer:

To complete the chart, we analyze each film:

1. Hidden Figures

• Main problem NASA must solve: Successfully launch and orbit John Glenn (ensure orbital calculations for a safe mission).
• Who is involved: Katherine Johnson (mathematician), Dorothy Vaughan (computer/engineer), Mary Jackson (engineer), other NASA scientists/engineers.
• Type of science/math used: Orbital mechanics, calculus, geometry (for trajectory calculations).
• Time pressure: Tight deadline before Glenn’s launch (hours/days to verify calculations).
• Obstacles within NASA: Racial segregation (limited access to resources, bureaucratic bias), early computing tech limitations.
• How teamwork contributes: Katherine’s math, Dorothy’s programming, Mary’s engineering, and colleagues’ collaboration to integrate data.

2. The Martian

• Main problem NASA must solve: Rescue Mark Watney (stranded on Mars) by adjusting mission plans, launching a supply mission, and coordinating a return trajectory.
• Who is involved: Mark Watney (astronaut/scientist), NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, mission control, Ares 3 crew (later), international space agencies.
• Type of science/math used: Astrophysics, botany (Watney’s self-sustainment), orbital mechanics, calculus (trajectory optimization).
• Time pressure: Watney’s limited food/water (solves over ~500 days), rescue window tied to Mars-Earth alignment.
• Obstacles within NASA: Tech limits (launch failures, communication delays), bureaucratic debates over mission risks.
• How teamwork contributes: Watney’s ingenuity + NASA’s global collaboration (e.g., China’s rocket, crew’s orbital adjustments).

You can now fill these details into the chart for each category!