Two astronauts in love, one broken shuttle, and a choice no one at NASA can know about.
Who drives the story
An astronomy professor at Rice turned NASA astronaut, then CAPCOM in mission control. She wants to keep everything—Vanessa, Frances, the job—and learns the cost of hiding the best parts of her life.
Joan's fellow trainee and secret lover, fearless where Joan is cautious. Alone and conscious aboard the broken Navigator, she defies orders to save her crewmate and lands the shuttle herself.
Joan's ten-year-old niece, loved like a daughter and shuffled aside by her mother. When Barbara moves to Europe, Joan effectively adopts her—giving Joan the family she chooses.
Joan's sister, an unreliable mother who leans on Joan for parenting, marries a man who can't reach her daughter, and finally moves to Europe, leaving Frances behind.
Barbara's husband, unable to connect with Frances. His marriage to Barbara and their move to Europe precipitate Joan's adoption of Frances.
How they are connected
She wants to keep everything—Vanessa, Frances, the job—and learns the cost of hiding the best parts of her life.
She wants to keep everything—Vanessa, Frances, the job—and learns the cost of hiding the best parts of her life.
When Barbara moves to Europe, Joan effectively adopts her—giving Joan the family she chooses.
Joan's sister, an unreliable mother who leans on Joan for parenting, marries a man who can't reach her daughter, and finally moves to Europe, leaving Frances behind.
Barbara's husband, unable to connect with Frances.
Barbara's husband, unable to connect with Frances.
His marriage to Barbara and their move to Europe precipitate Joan's adoption of Frances.
Go deeper
Love under surveillance · Chosen family · The body's veto · The cost of the dream
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
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