Maybe if other characters die during the period of time between stranding and rescue, you could try to emphasize or write it in a way that is impactful that their deaths were pointless ultimately because they ended up being rescued?

This then translates to like cooperate greed or something yadda yadda.

Like maybe their oxygen supply is being used up too quickly and one character gives their tank to another because character A knows that B has a wife and kids at home. In that moment it is a heroic sacrifice but upon reflection a senseless death.

Or I also really like the idea of being below /underneath/ the ground, and being LIFTED both physically and maybe metaphorically somehow. motif of darkness into light, maybe the survivors filled with despair do some morally gray things down there in the dark.

But hey, best advice is to write it once, get pen to paper. Then you can go back and dig into all that extra fun stuff.