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

The Daedalus crew battles across the harsh Martian terrain to reach their base camp; in the present-day documentary, NASA astronaut undergoes a yearlong mission on the International Space Station to understand hardships of space exploration.

In 2033, the Daedalus crew struggles to find shelter that can provide protection from radiation; in present day documentary, European Space Agency and Roscosmos partner to launch an orbiter that will help future Mars missions prepare for settlement.

A new crew arrives on Mars four years after the Daedalus landed to help execute plans for expansion and search for life; McMurdo Station in Antarctica serves as a modern example of how humans will settle Mars.

In 2037, the psychological pressures of life on Mars reveal themselves while the crew is trapped inside the habitat; in present-day, scientists study the effects of extreme isolation in various long-term analog missions.

In 2037, a devastating tragedy in the colony forces everyone on Mars and Earth to question the mission; in present-day, commercial space company SpaceX again attempts to pioneer the rocket technology that would help mankind reach the red planet.