How could someone return to Earth if there isn't any way to put them into hibernation?
In the 2016 film Passengers, Jennifer Lawrence's character Aurora Lane says that her plan was to travel to the planet Homestead II, live there for one year, and then return to Earth, being the first person to do so.
However, it is established that the colony ship they are on doesn't have the means to put someone into hibernation, and I didn't see any evidence of other ships going to the planet (although that would be the most logical explanation if there was evidence for it). So how did Aurora plan to return to Earth if the ship didn't have any way to put someone into hibernation?
Best Answer
The plan is that Aurora would put in Hibernation on Homestead II. Homestead II being another of many colony worlds. The ship is fully intended to be a two way ship and be used many times. It was never a one way voyage.
As Jim mentions, the process for hibernation is a long and complicated one. Part of the crew that were asleep would be corporate Medical officers with the means and knowledge to do it. The problem was that Jim and Aurora didn't have clearance for the Proprietary information on Homesteads hibernation technology, and even if they did, could not operate it from the inside. Hence the problem with one being able to sleep at the end at the cost of the other.
Once they arrive, multiple skilled workers, whom have received four months of training prior to landfall, will use multiple technologies to build up a society on Homestead II. This includes any laboratory or facility for hibernation. That's the point of colonization.
As intelligent as Aurora is, I'm sure she would have confirmed that a round trip could be achieved, prior to booking passage.
Update: The original screenplay says that the Avalon lands on Homestead II, it's greeted by existing colonists.
we see the scene from the perspective of the colonists gathering to watch the new citizens arrive.
Jim and Aurora have a conversation earlier about how profitable Homestead I was for the Homestead Corporation. It's likely that Jim and Aurora's ship was not the first to arrive at Homestead II. As such, facilities and medical staff already there could place her back in hibernation as well.
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