Dr. Alex Durant led a science expedition on the U.S.S. Palomino along with Dr. Kate McCrae in the year 2130. The mission was to last 5 years, and would entail searching for intelligent life on other worlds (a slang term for this being used at the time was habitable life ). It is unknown whether Durant was married or had children, although it is suspected that he was single, devoting the majority of his life to scientific truth. His eagerness for exploring often bordered on wreckless, sometimes ignoring dangerous situations in order to learn more. This style frequently clashed with the commander of Palomino, Captain Dan Holland. Durant was exceptionally intelligent, caring and personable- but rather obsessive in matters of science, sometimes risking his own safety (and the safety of others). In spite of this (and perhaps because of it), Durant advanced rapidly and was quickly afforded his own mission which, until the discovery on Christmas eve of the Cygnus and black hole, had been a colossal failure. Next to Kate McCrae, the only other person he is remotely close to on board is reporter Harry Booth. They had worked together off and on through the years, and developed something of a friendship. One of his greatest idols had been Dr. Hans Reinhardt, having read much about the commander's exploits as a young man. Unfortunately, it is his total belief in Dr. Reinhardt that leads to Durant's downfall. In one last, heroic act- Durant tries to protect his friend and associate Dr. McCrae from Maximillian and is killed by the robot's whirling blades. Show less «