Story highlights NASA tapped "Martian" star Matt Damon to explain real-life efforts to explore Mars

New movie combines fictional and factual narratives about Mars in the 2030s

(CNN) Matt Damon plays an astronaut stranded in space in his latest movie, and NASA is capitalizing on his star power to promote its future travels to Mars.

"The Martian" combines fact and fiction to create a universe in the 2030s where astronauts regularly travel to Mars and live on the surface of the Red Planet.

NASA worked with 20th Century Fox Entertainment to provide technical consultants and guidance on the film's production design. Now it's making the most of its Hollywood connection to educate the public on space exploration -- and to burnish its brand.

Earlier in 2015, NASA launched a page, " The Real Martians ," dedicated to the topic and tapped Damon for a video about real-life efforts to explore Mars.

JUST WATCHED Matt Damon discusses NASA's journey to Mars Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Matt Damon discusses NASA's journey to Mars 01:26

"Sending people to Mars and returning them safely is the challenge of a generation," Damon says in the NASA video. "Journey to Mars will forever change our history books, rewriting what we know about the red planet and expanding the human presence deeper into the solar system."

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