Mission to Mars (2000) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Woody realized their spaceship was destroyed and the only chance for survival was to reach the REMO module orbiting Mars. Using his jet pack's remaining fuel, he propelled himself toward the REMO to secure a tether for the remaining crew members. He succeeded in saving Terri, Phil, and Jim, but became disconnected in the process and was lost to the void of space.

• woody blake
• remo module
• jet pack
• space rescue

The formation, referred to as "the face," was an ancient Martian structure that served as a signal device. When the first crew attempted to scan it with radar, a vortex suddenly enveloped the structure, killing most of the crew. Later, Luke discovered the structure was emitting strange sounds containing a message encoded in human DNA coordinates.

• face on mars
• mars formation
• vortex
• signal

After learning that humanity originated from Martian seeds dispersed during their civilization's exodus, Jim felt a deep pull toward his ancestral origins. The Martian apparition invited one crew member to journey with them to a new home, and Jim volunteered, viewing it as humanity's greatest discovery and a chance to understand his true cosmic heritage.

• jim mcconnell
• martians
• exodus
• humanity origins

As the first crew investigated the mysterious geological formation, a violent vortex suddenly engulfed the structure, killing two crew members in the chaos. A third crew member then died when a rock shattered her visor, exposing her to the Martian atmosphere. The formation also emitted a powerful EMP that crippled their spacecraft's electronics, leaving Luke Graham as the sole survivor.

• first mission
• mars crew deaths
• vortex
• emp

The rescue crew's ship was struck by a swarm of micrometeorites that caused critical damage to the hull. While they successfully patched the atmosphere leak, they were unaware the fuel tanks had also been compromised. When they ignited the engines to stabilize their trajectory, the damaged fuel tanks exploded and destroyed the vessel.

Foreshadowing: The micrometeorite attack was preceded by the crew discussing their approach to Mars, unaware of the impending danger.

• micrometeorites
• fuel tank explosion
• spaceship destroyed

The Martian apparition explained that their civilization was destroyed by a massive asteroid strike that obliterated Mars's ecosystem. Before their extinction, they dispersed life seeds to Earth during their exodus. Over millennia, these seeds evolved into humanity, meaning humans are literally descendants of the Martians standing on their ancestral home.

• martian message
• human origins
• asteroid
• life seeds

After Woody became disconnected and lost in space while trying to save the crew, Terri made the selfless decision to cut her tether and attempt to rescue him. In response, Woody removed his own helmet to give her his oxygen, ultimately sacrificing himself so she might survive. This act of love and sacrifice led to both their deaths.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the mission, Terri and Woody displayed a close emotional bond, foreshadowing her willingness to risk everything for him.

• terri fisher
• woody blake
• sacrifice
• oxygen

During his solitary time on Mars, Luke worked tirelessly to decipher the strange sounds emanating from the formation. He discovered the signal contained human DNA coordinates, a message indicating that the structure needed one final pair of chromosomes to complete the human genetic code. The crew provided this by transmitting the missing genetic material, which opened the structure.

• dna coordinates
• genetic code
• mars signal
• chromosome

Luke was the only crew member to survive the vortex incident and the subsequent accidents. After the EMP disabled their spacecraft, he managed to send a distress signal to the REMO module orbiting Mars. He endured isolation on the harsh Martian surface, working to decode the mysterious signals while waiting for rescue, which eventually came with the second mission.

• luke graham
• survivor
• distress signal
• solitude

When the crew transmitted the missing DNA coordinates, the structure opened to reveal an environment that closely resembled Earth's atmosphere. Inside, they witnessed a spectacular holographic projection of the solar system, and a Martian apparition appeared to greet them and share the truth about their shared history.

• mars structure interior
• hologram
• solar system
• atmosphere