In 2033, the first human mission to Mars enters the planet's atmosphere in the Daedalus, but the crew soon face a life-threatening emergency when the ship's landing system goes offline.

The crew of the Daedalus struggle over the Martian terrain to reach their base camp. In the present day, astronaut Scott Kelly goes on a yearlong mission to the International Space Station.

The crew of the Daedalus attempt to find shelter that can protect them from radiation. In the present day, European Space Agency and Roscosmos team up to launch an orbiter that will assist future Mars missions prepare for settlement.

A new crew lands on Mars, four years after the Daedalus' arrival, to help with expansion and the search for life. McMurdo Station serves as a modern example of how humans will settle on Mars.

The crew in 2037 feels the psychological pressure of life on Mars when they find themselves trapped within the habitat. In the present day, scientists study extreme isolation.

A tragedy in 2037 sees those on Earth and those on Mars question the mission. In the present, a commercial space company attempts to take the wheel on the mission to reach the red planet.