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Solis (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 92 min · English
Echo score 52
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Directed by
Carl Strathie
Starring
Alice Lowe, Steven Ogg, Charlette Kilby, Henry Douthwaite, Kate Coogan, Sid Phoenix

While escape pod pilot Troy Holloway is hurtling toward the Sun, he faces a desperate fight for survival. Commander Roberts and her team launch a daring rescue mission, racing against a 90-minute deadline. As they struggle to save Holloway from certain doom, they confront personal battles with loss and redemption, uncovering unexpected connections between their lives and experiences.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (12)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Solis
  6. 6 Every angle
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12 events in order · contains spoilers

Solis Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Solis (2018) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Space mining disaster and Holloway's evacuation

    A space mining accident on Aten 2024 DEC kills Milton and Lieutenant Harris. Holloway evacuates in the EEV Khapera 2 with Milton's corpse and becomes the lone survivor. He awakens and makes contact with Commander Roberts aboard Hathor 18 to coordinate a rescue.

    When
    immediately after the accident
    Where
    Aten vicinity, space
  2. Beacon down and initial isolation

    With the beacon down, Holloway cannot inform Hathor 18 of his exact coordinates. He realizes help must come from Roberts regardless of direct contact. The isolation compounds the tension as he awaits a possible rescue.

    When
    shortly after awakening
    Where
    Inside EEV Khapera 2
  3. Roberts triangulates Holloway's position

    Roberts triangulates Holloway's beacon and pinpoints the EEV's location. She informs him that Hathor 18 will attempt a rescue and outlines a plan to intercept. The discovery marks the first concrete link between the trapped astronaut and the rescue team.

    When
    shortly after initial contact
    Where
    Space near Aten
  4. Sunward trajectory revealed

    Roberts tells Holloway that the EEV's departure from DEC has put him on a sunward trajectory. Holloway notes that the Sun is visible through the EEV's window, confirming the grim course. The revelation heightens the urgency of the rescue mission.

    When
    soon after triangulation
    Where
    Inside EEV Khapera 2
  5. Damage to the EEV surfaces

    Holloway learns of damage to the EEV, including temperature control issues and a radiation leak. He begins to assess repair needs while bracing for the increased risk in the hostile environment. The situation escalates as life support becomes more precarious.

    When
    soon after
    Where
    Inside EEV Khapera 2
  6. Rescue attempt initiated

    Roberts initiates the rescue attempt with Hathor 18, maneuvering toward the EEV. She emphasizes the command decision to recover at least one crew member from Aten 2024 DEC. The tense chase underlines the perils of space rescue.

    When
    during the rescue window
    Where
    Space near Aten, Hathor 18
  7. Holloway repairs under duress

    Holloway makes repairs on the EEV, performing both interior fixes and exterior work despite sustaining injuries. He labors to stabilize systems critical to life support and propulsion. The effort demonstrates his determination to survive and enable the rescue.

    When
    during the rescue attempt
    Where
    Inside and outside EEV Khapera 2
  8. Window cracks and dwindling oxygen

    The EEV's window begins to crack as it is battered by solar proximity. Holloway's oxygen levels decline and he fights to stay conscious. He urges Roberts to press the rescue despite the mounting danger.

    When
    as proximity to Sun increases
    Where
    Inside EEV Khapera 2
  9. Control orders to rescue at least one

    Roberts reminds Holloway that she has strict orders from Control to rescue at least one crew member. She remains committed to the mission and continues the maneuver toward the EEV. The exchange underscores the ethical weight of the rescue protocol.

    When
    during the rescue attempt
    Where
    Hathor 18 and vicinity of EEV
  10. Continued repairs as the Sun looms

    As the EEV is drawn closer to the Sun, Holloway pushes forward with repairs, including some exterior work under solar glare. He knows time is running out and every repair could be the difference between life and death. The solar heat intensifies the urgency of the mission.

    When
    approaching the Sun
    Where
    Between EEV Khapera 2 and Hathor 18
  11. Final approach and warning

    Holloway tells Roberts that he will be coming through the window and asks her to pull in front of him. She positions Hathor 18 to intercept in a high-stakes maneuver. The moment marks a crucial escalation in the rescue attempt.

    When
    final approach
    Where
    Space between EEV Khapera 2 and Hathor 18
  12. Rescue succeeds and Holloway goes home

    Roberts aligns Hathor 18 to intersect, and the EEV's window shatters under the strain. Holloway declares that he is going home as he makes his final bid for safety. The rescue culminates in a tense moment of survival and reunion with the Hathor crew.

    When
    final interception
    Where
    Near Hathor 18 and EEV Khapera 2

Last updated: February 25, 2026 at 08:10

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Timeline questions answered

Solis Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Solis (2018): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Commander Roberts refuse to abandon Troy Holloway?

Roberts refuses to abandon Holloway because she has strict orders from Control to rescue at least one crew member from the Aten 2024 DEC. She emphasizes this duty multiple times, insisting she cannot leave him despite his repeated pleas for her to turn back and save her own crew from the danger. Her determination stems from both following protocol and her personal commitment to completing the mission.

  • commander roberts
  • orders
  • rescue mission
  • control
Q2

Why does Troy Holloway tell Roberts to turn back?

Holloway urges Roberts to turn back because he recognizes the rescue is becoming increasingly dangerous as the EEV approaches the Sun. He can see the window cracking, his oxygen is running out, and the radiation leak is worsening. He doesn't want Roberts and her crew to die attempting to save him, making multiple pleas for her to retreat to safety.

  • turn back
  • danger
  • oxygen
  • window crack
Q3

How does the final rescue maneuver work?

As Holloway's air runs out, he tells Roberts that he will come through the window and asks her to pull in front of him. Roberts complies, maneuvering Hathor 18 to position itself alongside the EEV. Just as Holloway's oxygen completely depletes, the two ships align and the EEV's window shatters under the solar stress, allowing him to make the final push toward the rescue craft.

Foreshadowing: The window cracks earlier in the film, building to this moment of structural failure.

  • rescue maneuver
  • window
  • hathor 18
  • ships align
Q4

What happened to Milton and Lieutenant Harris?

Milton and Lieutenant Harris were killed in the space mining accident on Aten 2024 DEC. Holloway evacuates aboard the EEV Khapera 2 with Milton's corpse, making him the lone survivor of the three-person crew. Their deaths establish the high stakes of the rescue mission.

  • milton
  • harris
  • deaths
  • accident
  • crew
Q5

Why is the EEV on a collision course with the Sun?

The EEV's departure from the DEC (Docking Emergency Container) put it on a direct sunward trajectory. Once Roberts triangulates Holloway's position, she confirms that the EEV is indeed heading toward the Sun, which Holloway already suspected given the Sun's glow visible through the ship's window.

  • sun trajectory
  • eev
  • collision course
  • space
Q6

Why is there a 90-minute deadline for the rescue?

The 90-minute deadline represents the time before Holloway and the EEV reach the point of no return as they hurtle toward the Sun. The narrative operates as a tight countdown, with the rescue team racing against this window before solar heat and radiation make rescue impossible.

  • 90 minutes
  • deadline
  • countdown
  • sun approach
Q7

Does Troy Holloway survive at the end?

The ending is deliberately ambiguous. As Roberts positions Hathor 18 alongside the EEV, Holloway declares "I'm going home" just as the window shatters. The film cuts to black before showing whether he successfully makes it onto the rescue craft, leaving his fate unresolved.

  • ending
  • survival
  • ambiguous
  • final scene
Q8

What damage does the EEV sustain?

The EEV Khapera 2 suffers multiple system failures including temperature control issues and a radiation leak. These problems worsen as the craft approaches the Sun, compounding Holloway's danger. He works desperately to repair these systems while dealing with his own injuries.

  • eev
  • damage
  • radiation
  • temperature
  • repairs
Q9

How does Roberts locate the EEV?

With the EEV's beacon down, Holloway cannot directly inform Hathor 18 of his coordinates. Roberts works to triangulate his position, using a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) to try and locate the drifting capsule. She eventually successfully triangulates the signal and confirms where the EEV sits in space.

  • triangulate
  • beacon
  • plb
  • location
  • rescue

Movie threads

More Movies Like Solis, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Solis tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Desperate Space Survival Movies like Solis

Tense, claustrophobic battles for survival against impossible cosmic odds. If you liked the tense, high-stakes race for survival in Solis, this thread features similar movies about characters fighting against time and the elements in space. These films share a claustrophobic, high-intensity vibe with a focus on problem-solving and the profound loneliness of isolation.

  • claustrophobic
  • tense
  • desperate
  • anxious
  • lonely
  • high-stakes
  • Tone: tense, desperate, anxious
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories typically follow a linear, high-pressure countdown as characters face a rapidly approaching threat, often with limited resources. The narrative is driven by intense problem-solving, themes of isolation, and a desperate fight to overcome seemingly insurmountable physical and psychological challenges.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a core experience: a relentless, tense atmosphere driven by imminent physical danger and the psychological toll of extreme isolation. They feature similar pacing, intensity, and a focus on the raw, technical struggle for survival in a hostile environment.

Race Against Time Rescue Movies like Solis

Nail-biting missions where every second counts and failure is not an option. For viewers who enjoyed the daring rescue mission and 90-minute deadline in Solis, this thread collects similar high-stakes movies about desperate last-ditch efforts to save a life. These stories share a tense, fast-paced structure and explore themes of sacrifice and hope under extreme pressure.

  • tense
  • urgent
  • hopeful
  • desperate
  • anxious
  • rescue
  • Tone: tense, hopeful, determined
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot follows a linear structure defined by a literal or metaphorical countdown. A team or individual must overcome a series of escalating obstacles to achieve a goal before time runs out, creating a straightforward but highly suspenseful narrative arc focused on action and determination.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their core narrative engine: a defined, urgent deadline that dictates the pacing and raises the stakes. They share a similar tone of tense determination and often explore the emotional weight of the mission, the risks taken, and the possibility of sacrifice.

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Movies Like Solis

Similar movies to Solis: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Solis (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Solis in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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