168+ scientific errors in the movie "Armageddon" – NASA uses it for training (and rightly so)
“It happened 65 million years ago, it will happen again—the question is when?” This iconic line opens “Armageddon” (1998), directed by Michael Bay. This summer, I watched “Armageddon” once again. I think it’s a great movie, but it’s not without its flaws. This blockbuster, the highest-grossing film of 1998, elicits mixed reactions—ranging from enthusiasm to harsh criticism.
At NASA, the movie *Armageddon* is shown as part of the training program for mission control operators. Trainees are challenged to find as many logical and scientific errors in the film as possible. As of 2020, there are one hundred sixty-eight such errors.
I decided to do what NASA does with its future managers—find all the scientific and logical errors in the movie. The result is impressive and shows why this 1998 blockbuster remains one of the most scientifically inaccurate science fiction films in history.
Introduction: When Hollywood Meets Science
“Armageddon” not only became the highest-grossing film of 1998, but also Touchstone Pictures’ highest-grossing film. Despite its commercial success, Michael Bay’s film drew serious criticism from the scientific community. To date, NASA has identified approximately 168 scientific errors, making it one of the most inaccurate films ever made.
Fun fact: In the DVD commentary, Ben Affleck recounts how he asked Michael Bay, “Why is it easier to train oil drillers to become astronauts than to train astronauts to drill?” to which the director replied “Shut up.”
How NASA Uses “Armageddon” for Training
NASA uses the film in its management training program. The task is simple—candidates must identify as many as possible of the 168 scientific inaccuracies in the 150-minute film. That averages out to more than one error per minute—and those are just the impossibilities, not the improbable ones.
Scientific Errors: When Physics Doesn’t Work
Astronomy and Orbital Mechanics (30 errors)
The Discovery of the Asteroid
The most fundamental error is that an asteroid “the size of Texas” is discovered only 18 days before impact. In reality, such an object would have been visible to the naked eye months earlier.
The “ruby snow” meteor shower
The opening scene shows meteor showers, which rarely accompany massive asteroids in this way.
Rocket Technology and Spaceflight (28 errors)
Simultaneous launch
Two space shuttles launch simultaneously from adjacent launch pads 150 m apart. In reality, the distance between LC-39A and B is 8,700 feet (1.5 miles), and the shock waves would damage both spacecraft.
Maneuvering in Space
The shuttles “turn” in space like fighter jets, which is impossible in the vacuum of space without aerodynamic forces.
G-forces
The crew endures 9.5G for 11 minutes and converses normally, whereas in reality, such prolonged g-forces without special suits would cause G-LOC (loss of consciousness).
Space Environment (20 errors)
Fire and Sound in a Vacuum
The film shows huge fireballs, sound, and sparks in deep space. In a vacuum, there is no medium for sound to travel through, and a fire can only be sustained in the presence of oxygen.
The Asteroid’s Gravity
People walk “firmly” on the asteroid, even though the weak gravity would cause them to float away with every step.
Biological activity
There is a fly on the asteroid after sterilization, which is scientifically impossible under vacuum and extreme temperatures.
Engineering Logic and Drilling (18 Errors)
Drilling Speed
Drilling 800 feet into a “rubble pile” in a matter of hours is unrealistic — the actual flow rate of the drill bit and the removal of drilling mud require an entire drilling crew and circulating fluid.
Training
As Ben Affleck points out, training oil drillers to become astronauts in a matter of days cannot be any easier than training existing astronauts to use drilling equipment. Astronauts undergo 24–30 months of training.
The Equipment
The lunar rover’s diesel engines and GAU-8/A howitzer—an internal combustion engine with a real 10,000 lbf of thrust—would launch the vehicle off the asteroid.
Geology and Physics of Asteroids (14 errors)
The Structure of the Asteroid
An asteroid with steep canyons but a “spherical center of gravity.” A body with a diameter of 1,000 km would be isostatically rounded.
Neutron detonation
The explosion “into two halves that fly apart” requires an energy estimate of 800 trillion terajoules—more than the Sun produces in 1 second.
Logical errors: When common sense is lacking
Procedural and organizational oversights (13 errors)
The handover of control
Houston and Cape Canaveral swap roles for a few seconds, whereas in reality, “when the rocket clears the tower,” control is transferred from KSC to JSC-Houston.
Russian Refueling
The Russians fill the American shuttles with precise cryogenic fuel, even though the systems are incompatible, the fuels are different, and “Mir” has no such reserves.
Chronological Inconsistencies (9 Errors)
Timeline
The events begin on Friday, the asteroid is supposed to strike in 18 days (Tuesday), but the calculated impact time is Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Cartographic Errors
The Caribbean looks like today’s map from 65 million years ago, when the continents were in different positions.
Cinematographic Omissions (24 errors)
Props
A 49-star flag after 1959, when Hawaii had already become the 50th state.
Continuity
The timer readings are reversed (0:24→0:5h) due to an editing error.
Biomedical Absurdities (12 errors)
“Space Dementia”
The film mentions “space dementia” after 30 hours in orbit—a medical syndrome that does not exist.
Physiological Reactions
9.5G without special suits results in normal speech, while AGSM suits are required at 4–6G, and unconsciousness occurs at over 9G.
Why does this matter?
Critical Thinking
The ability to recognize scientific inaccuracies is crucial for engineers, scientists, and managers. That is precisely why NASA uses the film as a training tool.
Science Communication
Popular culture shapes perceptions. If we don’t point out the errors, they become “facts” in the eyes of the public.
Real Planetary Defense Missions
NASA, ESA, and other agencies are developing technologies (DART, Hera) to deflect asteroids. Realism is directly linked to public understanding and funding.
Conclusion
“Armageddon” is spectacular entertainment, but as a scientific document, it is a complete failure. From orbital mechanics to human physiology, the film violates virtually every physical constant and operational procedure.
With over 168 implausibilities in a 150-minute film—an average of more than one per minute— “Armageddon” remains valuable as a cautionary tale that trains future professionals to think critically and not to accept Hollywood as a scientific authority.
Despite all its flaws, the film remains a favorite of millions of viewers around the world—and that’s perfectly fine, as long as we remember that it’s entertainment, not a documentary.
Sources and Additional Information
- NASA Uses the Movie Armageddon in Their Management Training Program - Today I Found Out
- Why NASA Sometimes Shows the Movie ‘Armageddon’ as Part of Training - Cheat Sheet
- 1998’s Highest-Grossing Movie Has Over 168 Mistakes in It, According to NASA - MovieWeb
- “So Many Errors It’s Used As Training”: NASA Tears Apart Armageddon - Screen Rant
- Everything Wrong with Armageddon - Everyday Science Stuff
- Armageddon (1998) - Goofs - IMDb
- Armageddon (1998) mistakes - Movie Mistakes
- Armageddon (1998) factual errors - Movie Mistakes
- Armageddon in NASA training - Space Exploration Stack Exchange
- What are the 168 things scientifically wrong with the movie Armageddon - Quora
- Armageddon (1998 film) - Wikipedia
- “Armageddon” is 25 years old: Scientists agree this problematic blockbuster aged like warm milk - Salon
- The Rising Tide: Sustainable Fisheries Management in a Changing Climate - iNews
- Planetary Defense in the Movies - The Planetary Society
- Physics in Film: Armageddon - Physics in Film
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