The mission to Titan was suppose to take two years, two and a half, tops. So when a mechanical malfunction caused ground control to lose contact with the Astraeus just three weeks before they were suppose to be heading for home the situation may have been less than ideal but most of the technology used on the space craft and back in Eureka had been basically invented just for this occasion and glitches, while annoying and potentially life threatening, were to be expected. And while they may have lost visual and audio they were still receiving readings from both the sensors on the ship and the people within so while annoying to those that had loved ones onboard it wasn't considered life threatening, even if it was what were they really going to do to help, and life went on as usual within America's weirdest little town.
It wasn't until the Astraeus was two months over due that people, both inside the city and outside, began to wonder and panic. They were still receiving the readings and nothing seemed amiss. It appeared, for all intents and purposes, that they were just late. But as days turned into weeks and weeks into months it became increasing clear that something was seriously wrong.
The scientists that had either opted not to participate in the Astraeus trials, had been disqualified for one reason or another, or were new hires worked tirelessly trying to restore audio and visual with the missing space craft. But just like all the others before them they failed. There was just no way to correct the malfunction that had originally knocked those systems offline. So as more time passed those in Eureka gave up hope. Four years, two of which were overdue, was a long time to hold out hope for a safe return of the Astraeus crew. And on the sixth anniversary of the launch a memorial for Eureka's fallen heroes was unveiled in the town square just outside the Sheriffs office. All of Eureka would be in attendance.