Passage to Mars Page #5

We're distracted by our jobs,

by simple survival

and Jean-Christophe's playlist

but we can't help wondering

what's happening back home..

And what lies ahead.

I can only imagine

our loneliness on Mars.

Two hundred million kilometers

from home.

6 a.m.

Lovely wake-up surprise.

We're losing

power steering fluid.

To check the fluid level,

we have to cut off the engine

which might not restart.

Conundrum time.

Without power steering,

we can't drive

but if our engine

doesn't restart

we're dead in the water.

Well, I think we need

to warm up first

and continue in a bit.

Alright. The power..

If we're about to lose

power steering

I'd let it stop and rest.

Let it rest

before you lose it completely,

and you're...

Yeah, so what,

what resting will do to it?

Well, I don't know.

Resting will

give... give it a break.

- And then what?

- And then, you know..

- And then what?

- And then keep going.

Is it gonna recover?

It... it should.

I don't know what's doing this.

The fluid's fine,

the belts are fine.

It doesn't make any sense

to give it a break, Jesse.

We are gonna fix it or we're

gonna have to keep on going.

I don't even know

if that does anything...

I'm about to take

a break myself!

Well, that's different,

that's okay.

Okay.

That's why we're saying

why don't you jump inside?

- Yeah.

- Okay.

I'm hearing

our mission clock tick away

but I need to give Jesse

some space.

We take a break

then time for MECO.

The NASA-speak

for Main Engine Cutoff.

Hey, uh, the power steering

fluid is in that box, right?

Well, we may not

need them to come back.

We can just join them there.

- Are we low?

- I don't know.

Just give me something.

Well, I... I can go ahead

and tell you

I don't think we are

'cause I can see it.

We're good.

It's right on the line.

We're good.

Ready?

Okay?

Transfer case

doesn't matter, but..

It doesn't matter.

As we leave the Jamesons,

we see fog.

The ice is already

breaking up ahead.

But where?

John is on the lookout

for open water.

Joe is far ahead. Maybe too far.

I don't like it.

Heya, Joe, Joe!

Can you slow down, and, uh,

wait up for us there?

We pretty much lost

sight of you.

Slow down please.

Thin ice. Thin ice.

Retreat. Thin ice.

Thin ice. Retreat.

Hey, John,

I think the back is in slush.

Joe! Joe!

Yeah, we're really stuck, Joe.

We're gonna need your help.

Come on back. Come on back.

4:
00 p.m.

Our worst nightmare.

We've run into a lead.

The Okarian is sinking.

Each time I add power,

the rover sinks further in.

We're losing her.

- Have we made any progress?

- No.

Bring back the cable!

More cable! More!

More!

Hey, John,

upward with the winch.

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