Avatar: A Stunning New World That NASA Is Ignoring

I don't see why NASA would should attach itself to an over hyped movie whose main selling point so far has been that it's filmed in 3D. I'm sure it will have it's fair share of scientific inaccuracies.

NASA has a problem of message and mission clarity for sure. You'd think in an age of almost free communication and where the barrier to content creation is really low that they would have figured the message issue out by now.

Then again, maybe a few of us can help them do that. I don't think it's for lack of desire to do this on their part. Maybe they just need a little push. It certainly worked with the Tweetups they've been doing.

There's a ton of opportunities to either independently do creative content and discussions or to help NASA do it.

Well you have a point but what if its a dog? So far we've seen some trailers and clips that look impressive visually, but we've seen this sort of thing before where a film is visually appealing but an awful script. This may not be the case, but it seems to me the film has a bit of an anti-war theme so the politics of it might have made it difficult for a government agency to support it.

Connecting with adults is a tricky thing. For those adults with an active interest in NASA and space activities, all that is really needed is to stick information on the Web, and not make it too hard to find.

When it comes to the apathetic adult population, connecting is a lot more difficult. Popular movies have some potential, but the casual attitude of many filmmakers towards scientific accuracy makes things difficult. For example, the howlers in that "Impact" miniseries that was on TV recently are inexcusable. Movies like "The Right Stuff" and "Apollo 13," even if not perfect, are better.

Maybe NASA needs to embrace drama. Well done documentaries, or even, God forbid, reality TV shows, might generate some interest, if things work out right. Clever editing can make reality look dramatic, without compromising professionalism.

As much as I hate reality shows, one that would follow an AsCan around before during and after the process to become a Astronaut would be interesting.

But honestly, this Avatar movie looks terrible. I have no desire to see it. If NASA endorses this movie whats next Halo 4 presented by NASA

It sounds to me like you're tieing it to the suggestion of mining metals on the Moon and snapping at it from there.

We sure can't let anyone get the idea that there's valuable resources in space. I mean, then people might want to fund the space program.

You might as well complain that toys have nothing to do with NASA. Buzz Lightyear can't even fly.

Editor's note: you did not read what I wrote either.

"Editor's note: you did not read what I wrote either."

I did, twice. What's the issue?

Editors note: your preoccupation with mining - not the issues I listed.

I am so looking forward to Avatar! I reckon it will be the best movie of the year (ignore the cynical haters). Regarding accuracy, JC seems to be obsessive about such things (if the original scriptment is anything to go by), and there is a whole lot of detail about the spaceship, the alien moon, its biology and so on. Incidentally, the better sites for info are AvatarMovieZone.com and Marketsaw - the official site is a bit crappy.

He picks it out of the pile and wants to throw the baby out with the bathwater on that merit. That annoys me. I said so. If we're going to be that pedantic, Toy Story is out--and ironically, this one would be *in* as per the astrobiology connections you listed.

Man's greatest fault is hubris. If you don't have humility you'll never know more than you know. The people missing the point of Keith's post should think hard about what they're using their neurons for, because it isn't for thought.

The point is you can direct a person's energy to a useful purpose through discussion of things they are interested in.

If a child (or I) get interested in a Hollywood movie, and a teacher asks "well how should we deal with that situation in real life?", do you think that is a productive redirection of energy? Do you think their inspiration has been used for something good?

Is my child interested in living in space? No. He won't discuss it with you, either. But after watching Wall-e, he will discuss the merits of living in space and preserving the earth. Get it now?

Or do you think reading story books to children is a waste of time because the pictures of fuzzy characters aren't real? Missing the point. The story book was to teach them language, bond them to their parent, and make them happy. And more. It wasn't about the pictures.

Sorry, there is no life in the Alpha Centauri star system. But the Milky Way galaxy is teeming with magnificent Earth-like living worlds and with intelligent species whose homes are more distant star systems. In this solar system, there is no life other than on Earth where life emerged 3.9 billion years ago. But other peoples in our galaxy? Yes. Some of these ET astronaut species manage to make the multi-light year journey to Earth, whose chemical signatures for life can be observed from other stars. Humans do not share a common ancestor with ETs; nor did ETs seed Earth with life (panspermia). What alternate biochemistries/atmospheric compositions would be compatible with "life as we know it"? All intelligent species require oxygenated air to breathe and metabolize and water to drink. The truth is out there.

It sounds like ferngully, in SPAAAAAACE!

The resource war thing makes the plot seem obvious but ill conceived. I'd go for the special effects, which look damn nice, but I don't expect much from the story.

There's an even bigger missed NASA outreach opportunity than what you suggest with AVATAR. Jim Cameron is on the MSL Mastcam Science Team ( http://www.msss.com/msl/team.html ). He was put on the team to use the instrument to better engage the public in the mission. Mastcam was designed with two capabilities to enable that: an HD video mode (to be able to shoot movies) and a zoom lens (to provide the wide field necessary for cinematic imaging).

From http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=15695 , announcing the original Mastcam selection: "Our goal was to have the same capability on Mars as I have with the 3D high definition motion imaging system I developed for deep ocean exploration and motion pictures," said James Cameron, filmmaker and MastCam co-investigator. "Since the MastCam is twenty times smaller, some compromises were necessary. But we will have the basic 3D high definition motion imaging capability on Mars, and that will allow all of us to accompany the rover on its journey."

In 2007, NASA HQ directed that the Mastcam zoom capability be eliminated (see http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/Announcements/STERN-MEPAG.pdf page 10). At that point, the instrument was probably 80% complete. The descoped design that replaced the zoom version meets all the science goals for the instrument, but with very narrow fields of view, it lacks the wide field capability necessary for cinematic imaging. Meaning Jim Cameron really can't do what he was put on the team to do.

With the slip of the MSL launch from 2009 to 2011, the time is now available to complete the original zoom Mastcams (the descoped Mastcams are already completed and ready to fly). Doing so would qualitatively improve the public perception of the mission. With the existing cameras on MSL, the images (and Cameron's ability to do cool things with them) will not be any better than what we got from MER. By the time MSL lands on Mars, it'll be 2012, the better part of a decade after MER. People will be expecting more, especially from a mission that cost more than twice what MER did.

Ravine - thanks for the information about Cameron's role with MastCam. That's fascinating. It would be great if the original MastCam could be completed.

Mastcam's two fixed zooms following the descope will be about 1.25 and 3.75x higher resolution than Pancam - a full Pancam mosaic is approx 20,000 pixels across and 3000 pixels tall. Using the narrow angle fixed focus mastcam - this will be more like 80,000 x 12,000 pixels - a dramatic improvement.

However - I would agree strongly that the descope is a massive massive hit to the outreach potential of the camera. Especially the ability to use it for simple 3D using equal zoom on both lenses - and the orig planned wide angle ability, used to record 5 fps movies watching for Dust Devils, or taken during driving, would have been utterly spectacular. It's a real shame. But it's not time that caused the zoom to be cut, it was budget. MSL's budget is an issue of contention in this place - but I think we can probably all agree that this is one place where a cut is really going to hurt potential outreach of the mission.

As for Avatar - I don't see what the fuss is about. Maybe it's been discussed. Maybe they couldn't come to an agreement. Maybe there isn't budget to pull together a project with the movie. Maybe they didn't think it's a good idea. I don't see just cause for criticism here. NASA is not obliged, nor would it be wise for them to be involved with every space related movie. Truthfully, whilst this move looks like it will be a spectacle, I don't think the themes are appropriate for a NASA tie in. I would equally expect criticism from this place were they do have such a tie in. Sometimes, they just can't win.

Editor's note: Earth to Doug: There is no "maybe". I already asked the people at NASA HQ who are responsible for such things and there is no agreement. Nor has one been sought. Odd that you see "no need for criticism" but come here to criticize ... but I am not allowed to post *anything* on your website. Oh yes, you refuse to allow *any* discussion of Astrobiology on your website. Careful - your bias is showing....

Cameron used the money from his last, ocean themed movie to fund his own private ocean exploration. Now he's making a space themed movie. Hmmm...

I think part of the problem with MSL relates back to the cancellation of the Mars Telecommunications Orbiter. The lack of the MTO limits the bandwidth available for data return. If MRO isn't operational when MSL lands, the bandwidth situation would be even worse. I'm only speculating, but I think bandwidth limitations helped make the Mastcam susceptible to descoping.

Given Cameron's interest in and involvement with the Mastcam, and his proven ability to make movies that connect with the public, I do think NASA should have given some serious consideration to doing something in connection with this movie. NASA wouldn't necessarily have had to commit to anything if it looked like the movie wouldn't fit in with NASA's plans.

Popular media is probably the best way for NASA to connect with people. I bet a lot of people have learned more about the ISS from "The Colbert Report" than all of NASA's press releases combined. So, I do think NASA should actively pursue opportunities to work with the entertainment industry, as long as they're careful not to get taken advantage of.

@John Cody: If Cameron got seriously interested in funding private space activities, that would, of course, be great! Maybe he could even do a location shoot for one of his future films! If only he could find a ride up that wouldn't blow out the budget.