Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson Fact Checks Gravity

Me and millions of other people this weekend visited the movie theater to see the critically acclaimed movie Gravity. I was impressed by the CGI, the dramatic scenes, and Sandra Bullock floating. While I know little about the science, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson points out possible slip ups and scientific facts the film creators may have overlooked or didn’t address.

My Tweets hardly ever convey opinion. Mostly perspectives on the world. But if you must know, I enjoyed #Gravity very much.

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 7, 2013

Mysteries of #Gravity: Astronaut Clooney informs medical doctor Bullock what happens medically during oxygen deprivation. — Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 7, 2013

 

An Orbit is a continual state of free fall, but while moving so fast sideways that the surface curves away at the same rate. — Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 7, 2013

 

Fall towards Earth. Fall towards the Moon. Fall towards Mars. Fall towards anywhere at all, you’ll be weightless in zero-G — Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 7, 2013

 

Mysteries of #Gravity: Satellite communications were disrupted at 230 mi up, but communications satellites orbit 100x higher. — Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 6, 2013

 

Mysteries of #Gravity: Nearly all satellites orbit Earth west to east yet all satellite debris portrayed orbited east to west

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 6, 2013

 

Mysteries of #Gravity: Why Bullock’s hair, in otherwise convincing zero-G scenes, did not float freely on her head.

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 6, 2013

Mysteries of #Gravity: When Clooney releases Bullock’s tether, he drifts away. In zero-G a single tug brings them together. — Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 6, 2013

Mysteries of #Gravity: How Hubble (350mi up) ISS (230mi up) & a Chinese Space Station are all in sight lines of one another. — Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 6, 2013

 

Mysteries of #Gravity: Why Bullock, a medical Doctor, is servicing the Hubble Space Telescope.

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 6, 2013

 

The film #Gravity depicts a scenario of catastrophic satellite destruction that can actually happen.

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 6, 2013