Summary

The astronauts have “arrived” at their destination (218). They radio Mission Control, and Boone Cross informs them that the spacecraft Red Dawn II (their ride home) has landed safely, and that the Chinese astronauts are dead. Helen calls for a moment of silence, and begins musing on her recent pattern of anxious thoughts. She is transported back to the past, when she was 9 years old and her father had an accident, hitting his head in the grocery store. He was left in a coma and on life support for years. Helen shakes off the thought, angry at herself for misusing the moment of silence, then deciding it was okay, because grief often recalls other grief.

The astronauts have a simulation spacewalk out onto Mars. It is beautiful, but Helen hopes the real thing will be a little different.

Sergei...