Questions for the hard-core

1. Was there any indication of the violent sandstorm blowing up so suddenly for any reason other than it helping ensure that Beavis & Butthead were cut off from the ship and/or providing an excuse for effects I presume looked good in 3D (ie the whizzing sand as the crew struggle at the airlock etc)? 2. On repeated viewing, is it more obvious that the Cobralien/Hammerpede is the apparent result of Earth-like worms bathing in spilled goo? 3. Does the mutated Butthead's bad-tempered return to the ship drive the story forward at all, other than in having him eliminate several minor nameless characters we barely even knew were present? thanks R