Nasa sent the International Space Station Ridley Scott's The Martian and Alien to watch over Christmas

'Mark Watney's journey to Mars in the film mimics the real challenges of going to the Red Planet'

220 miles away, orbiting the earth, floats the International Space Station (ISS), currently filled with six astronauts, including our very own Tim Peake.

As you are probably aware, it is very nearly Christmas, and while you’re stuffing your face with all the tasty delights that come with the festive season, spare a thought for those floating around without their friends and family around them.

Luckily, Santa will still be visiting the crew, bringing with him a host of Ridley Scott DVDs. For Christmas, NASA are sending up a copy of the director's latest film, The Martian, for them to enjoy.

I say enjoy... The plot of The Martian follows Matt Damon’s character Mark Watney and his crew on an expedition to Mars.

Unfortunately, a storm hits, and Watney gets stranded on the red planet, with NASA deciding to not to send out a retrieval unit even though he is alive. What are NASA trying to tell them?

"Mark Watney's journey to Mars in the film mimics the real challenges - both human and technological - of going there and the ingenuity required to live on the Red Planet,” said NASA’s associate administrator for communications David Weaver.

Daunting task: Matt Damon stars in the film version of Andy Weir's The Martian (Getty Images)

Some of the astronauts were previously shown a rough cut of the film in September before the movie came out, Scott Kelly and Kjell Lindgren sharing photos of the crews reaction online.

Throughout the movie making process, NASA and Scott worked extensively together to make sure the final film was as authentic as possible.

"Astronauts are free to watch the film on the space station in their down time,” Weaver continued.

The ISS has also been sent some of Scott’s other films, including Prometheus, Thelma & Louise, Exodus and Alien. They might not want to watch that last one either.