The problem I have with many sci-fi movies in existence is their seemingly blatant disregard for the physics that exist in the universe. I could be a wrong on a few points but this film quite accurately represents space... or at least, much better than other films.
The biggest offender of space physics that comes to mind is Armageddon, where things are on fire outdoors and jumping a asteroid canyon involves being able to clear the ditch before you fall into it in a zero gravity environment (and the fact that a wheeled vehicle was involved at all.)
This movie does quite a good job replicating at least what I would imagine a zero gravity environment is like (I, like most people, have never been in one.) Apparently this movie took 4 years to complete and Sandra Bullock went through a lot of mental duress because of the stress involved with filming it.
The lack of any sort of noise existing in space, despite the fact that things are getting ripped apart at one point is a really nice touch, and the physics of an "object in motion staying in motion" is pretty cool in this movie. They easily made up for the tension that explosions would normally give us with a nice soundtrack and great visual effects.
As far as NASA protocol is concerned and whether or not the space movement suit that Clooney utilizes actually exists, I suppose we would have to ask NASA about that. The DVD i watched last night had a second one with bonus materials including the 'making of.' Myself and my family are really looking forward to that because well, this entire film almost certainly was filmed in a studio.
Overall, this film is just fantastic and you don't need to be a Sci-Fi guy to enjoy it because well, i would imagine that vast majority of what takes place in this film could technically happen. Therefore, while it is fiction, it all seems quite conceivable. This is what makes the film more fun, for me anyway.
The movie made many top 10 lists for 2013 and was nominated for 10 Academy awards and it made 600 million dollars, which i suppose would be considered a success.