So far, every bit of marketing for Ridley Scott’s The Martian has been pretty exciting — between the viral content, deliberately paced release of images and the trailers, someone at 20th Century Fox is well-deserving of a raise. The latest viral video features noted astrophysicist and Cool Guy™ Neil deGrasse Tyson in a fictional episode of StarTalk, examining the Ares 3 mission featured in The Martian.

Tyson talks us through the perilous and wondrous mission to Mars, from a pitstop at the Hermes, hovering in low-earth orbit, to the dangers of the full voyage, including radiation, asteroids and solar flares. The astrophysicist often takes to Twitter to discuss and criticize the science in science fiction films and television shows, so for 20th Century Fox to have him host a viral video for The Martian really lends their film some scientific credibility.

Matt Damon stars in the film as astronaut Mark Watney, who is stranded on Mars following his team’s mission to the red planet. Left alone with no way to phone home for help, his only hope for survival is to cultivate his surroundings and attempt to grow enough plant life to sustain him until he can make contact.

The Martian also stars Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kate Mara, Michael Pena, Donald Glover, Jeff Daniels and Kristen Wiig, and hits theaters on October 2.

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