NASA is conducting a series of deep space missions to land on Mars. Because of the one-year round trip of each mission and the need for self-reliance due to the enormous distance from Earth, the spacecraft human crews are commanded by an android who never tires and is always vigilant. The missions are launched from the International Space Station to perform a series of landings on the tiny Martian moon, Phobos, in order to build a staging base for the ultimate descent and landing on the surface of Mars. Madison Lambert, serving as the Chief Astronaut on the space station, receives a distress call from the crew of the spacecraft saying they need immediate help. The plea throws Madison and others at Mission Control into turmoil as they feverishly work to initiate a response filled with danger.