It was 8 months since the start of the mission (i.e. the fake blast off). It took that long to get to and back from Mars (in theory, obviously, as they didn't really do it). Between the 'accident' on re-entry and the memorial service was only the period of days, the days between the astronauts escaping their government captivity by stealing the Lear jet and Caulfield's subsequent rescue of Brubaker. The other guys were captured very soon after escape in real terms.
Hope that helps! This film is still the best evidence of all that the moon landings weren't faked - the lengths they would have to go to to cover it all up/expunge anyone who started digging around/asking the wrong questions would soon draw attention in the wrong way.
Jerseyporter
"The end is where we start from." (Captain Jack, "Torchwood")
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hornacek
8 years ago
"The other guys were captured very soon after escape in real terms."
Waterston and Simpson's characters were killed, not captured. Leaving them alive just threatens to expose the conspiracy. They had to be killed.
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wrlord2001
8 years ago
The blast off was not fake. The capsule did go up and orbit Mars.
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