Core Settings Time: 2035 (pre-time-jump) → 2049 (post-time-jump) Location: NASA Mars base "Olympus Dawn" Protagonists Jack Hawk (42): Mechanical engineer and veteran NASA astronaut, separated from his wife for three years following their daughter's death. Emily Chen-Hawk (40): Astrophysicist and Mars ecosystem designer, outwardly rational but privately tormented by guilt.