Strap in for humanity’s wild dash to Mars in this hard science-powered adventure.

Astronaut Addy Johnson and his wife, Bria, have beaten the odds—and dodged a media scandal—to snag spots on NASA’s first crewed mission to Mars, joining another couple who also happen to be their closest friends and bandmates.

Before launch, the foursome top the charts and lean on each other through personal drama and brutal training in Antarctica. But even months of frozen survival drills can’t fully prepare them for what awaits beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

Propelled by cutting-edge nuclear thermal propulsion, the crew hurtles toward their destination at record-breaking speeds. But when Addy, eager to outrun the Chinese competition, defies Mission Control—and the wishes of Bria and the rest of the crew—he gambles not just with the mission, but with their safety. And two marriages that have become as cold and rocky as the Red Planet itself.

In this witty, high-spirited debut from Richmond Scott, Addy and his crewmates navigate the perils of deep space while dealing with amorous robots, reality TV absurdity, a power-hungry space entrepreneur with a secret agenda, and a newly-elected anti-science President who wants NASA gone for good.

It’s one small step for humankind—and one giant leap into reckless ambition, riotous recriminations, and really bad decisions.