Away

How you feeling, Emma?

Uh, repairs are underway.

I'm confident the ship will be good to go and will remain on schedule.

That's... that's great, but I asked about you, not the ship.

I already debriefed with Darlene.

Emma, I'm asking how you're feeling

about what happened on the way to the Moon.

Squared away.

It's natural to second-guess your response to a crisis.

Who called it a crisis?

What would you call it?

There was a problem. We dealt with it.

Look, um... no disrespect, Putney,

but I've got a checklist as long as my arm to get through

before tomorrow's launch, so...

And you feel ready?

Good to go.

- How much time? - About 30 seconds. Let's go!

- Yes! - There you go.

- Okay, yeah. - Let's go! Pass it!

- Come on! Come on! - Go! Go! Go! Go!

Let's go! Let's go!

- You got it! Pass! - Pass!

- Come on, Lex! - Come on!

- Let's go, Lex! You got it! - You got it!

- Go! - Take the shot, Lex!

- Take the shot, Lex! - Lex, take it! Take it!

- Take the shot! - Go! Go!

Here!

What?

It's all right. It was a good game!

- You were eating that girl's lunch. - I know.

- It's just that you had it, you know? - She was wide open!

Yeah, but you gotta be the one that wants to take the shot!

Guys, let's discuss the post-game analysis later.

Right this way.

- Hi. -

Hey, Matt.

It's your ball, Em.

Take the shot.

Ladies and gentlemen,

one last time before they launch to the Moon,

the crew of the Atlas, our inaugural mission to Mars.

This mission is billed as an international collaboration,

yet the official language is English, the commander is American...

Look, I mean, it's not a secret, right, that the United States have taken on

the greatest financial burden of all five nations, but, uh...

you know, Emma's our commander

because she is the most phenomenal astronaut and leader.

Cosmonaut Popov,

you have logged more time in space than anybody else alive.

How do you feel about taking orders from someone younger and less experienced?

Well, uh...

when you put it like that...

No, no, no. I'm staying. I'm staying.

Or conversely, Kwesi Weisberg-Abban.

- Yes? - You'll be the only one

up there with absolutely no experience in space.

Yes, but...

perhaps what I can bring,

the hope of growing life on Mars, will make up for what I lack.

Kwesi's being modest. He happens to be one of the world's leading botanists.

And, uh, Dr. Wang is among her nation's finest chemists.

We've all trained together for two years,

and I have absolute confidence in every member of this crew.

Except for maybe Ram, who is an expert at crashing experimental air force jets.

But he promises to do better with the Atlas.

Spoken like a true navy pilot.

I didn't even know these guys had planes.

Dr. Wang, it has been determined

that you will be the first person to set foot on Mars.

As your fellow countryman, I am elated.

Can you tell the people of China how you feel?

Yes, I'm elated.

How about your family?

It's an honor to represent my family,

my country,

and the world.

Don't worry. When she opens up, she doesn't stop talking.

And, Emma, how about your family?

How do they feel about you leaving them for three years?

My husband has been in this with me every step of the way.

We both trained to be astronauts,

and if it were not for health reasons, he might be the one going up.

Instead, as chief engineer of our rocket,

he'll be with us in Mission Control.

A recent study predicts a 50-50 chance you won't survive this mission.

- How, then, do you... - What?

Wait, is it too late to change my mind?

How, then, do you respond to critics

who say that the money spent on this mission

could be better spent on social imperatives here on Earth?

Education, health care...

Why should we care more about Mars than we do our own planet?

We shouldn't.

Of course we should care about social imperatives.

But in the US alone,

we spend a trillion dollars each year on the military,

and mostly in case the countries represented here

decide to blow each other off the face of the Earth.

This mission, it cost a fraction of that,

as we work together,

repurposing those same tools of destruction for discovery.

At this very moment, there's a team of astronauts on the Moon,

mining polar ice caps for fuel and water.

Water that will be pumped into the hull of our ship

to shield us from radiation,

allowing us to travel safely from the Moon to Mars.

Reaching Mars...

might prove to be the greatest achievement.

Not only for science but for the future of our planet.

And not to mention one hell of a ride.

Isn't this fancy? Who did this?

- -

You don't have to put that away.

No homework at dinner.

No cell phone at dinner. Nice try though.

Here's a math question for you.

Okay.

Is there really a 50-50 chance you'll die?

Lex, journalists...

they just need to be provocative. They're trying...

Honey, I'm gonna be working with people like your dad.

You know, the smartest...

engineers and scientists in the world.

Yes, there are risks with the job. I mean, space is...

I'm not gonna let anything happen to your mom, sweetie.

I know every inch of that ship, and I'm gonna be right there.

Mission Control isn't right there.

You're right. It isn't.

And, um...

there is always a chance that, you know,

that I don't make it.

Hey.

Do you wanna talk any more about...

No.

If that's okay?

Yeah.

Yeah, of course it's okay.

Hey... I got you a present.

That's the Earth,

the Moon,

and Mars.

And the string...

is me making my way back to you.

So, just remember...

the further away I get,

I'm actually just getting closer to being back to you.

I couldn't lie to her.

You did what you felt was right.

No.

She's gonna continue to hear things from other people,

and I'd just rather her hear them from us.

And you know the risks more than anyone.

You know, I'd still go in a heartbeat if the docs would let me.

And you will make it home.

I know this because you are a phenomenal astronaut.

I knew it the first moment I saw you in that T-38.

- You were fangs out all the way. -

You always were a sucker for a fast girl.

- Hmm. -

Every time you've launched has been the worst day of my life.

I'm standing there...

watching everyone cheering, waving their flags,

and me knowing, in about five minutes...

the person I love...

who is my life...

could be blown to pieces.

So, no.

I don't want our daughter to think about that.

I just want her to stand there, cheering,

talking about her mom, who's a freakin' hero.

And who'll be home soon.

["The Maze" by Manchester Orchestra playing]

Don't go.

I'll be right back.

It's only three years.

Mm-hmm. Okay, I guess I won't miss you then.

Fine.

I won't miss you either.

I love you, shithead.

I love you more.