Original subtitles

Thank you.

Only Chairman Mao has the key to that lock.

All we can do is to warn the rest of the world.

How much time is there?

Less than 72 hours.

suspended several hundred miles below the control unit

we are certain the force of this detonation will

rupture the faults of the earth's surface and set up a chain reaction of

explosions when the earth's tension is broken there are only 51 hours left we

better notify the president

We have a slight hold at T-120.

This is a fuel pressure parity check. Repeat, hold at T-120.

Gentlemen, it is T-120, so we'll have to make this very brief.

You all know Colonel Price, flight commander of our Project Astro.

Colonel, why this trip to Venus?

I understand it's over 160 million miles away.

It'll take you four months to get there, and you'll be gone for two years.

Gentlemen, we've come a long way in space flight in the last ten years.

Since 1965, our fixed satellites, our space stations, our lunar landing, and

base established there several years ago, our probes of the outer solar

system, all these efforts have helped prepare us for the payoff of phase one,

putting man on Venus.

Attention.

Countdown is resumed from T minus 120.

Repeat.

Countdown is resumed from T minus 120.

Gentlemen, any more questions?

Yes. Why the astronauts take the long way to get to a planet?

Instead of hopping straight across to it.

Will Dr. Haynes contact Operator 5?

Repeat. Will Dr.

Haynes contact Operator 5?

Urgent.

Operator, get me ground control.

Then base security.

And operator, keep this line open.

Actually, we take the shortest route.

I'll show you.

This is the inner solar system.

Mars, Earth, Venus, and Mercury. Nope, Venus is the next closest planet to the

Sun.

Your question is, why don't we drop right down here to Venus, taking

advantage of the Sun's gravitation?

Venus wouldn't be there when we got there. It travels along its own orbit.

You make a rendezvous with it?

Exactly.

Colonel, make this brief.

This is our starting point.

And Venus at our point of rendezvous.

We get into orbit around the Earth as a launching point in space.

Then, taking advantage of the Earth's speed along its own orbit, we take off

into deep space on a ballistic course that ends here.

Now we drop into a Venus orbit and prepare to land.

And it's as simple as that?

Nothing's that simple.

How long will the journey take?

Barring unusual circumstances, four months to reach Venus.

But counting the return trip and planned explorations, we'll be gone two years.

Well, what do you consider unusual circumstances?

Anything we're not prepared for.

Excessive radiation, meteors, unknown factors.

The time is T-minus 117 minutes.

All unauthorized personnel are instructed to clear the launch area.

Second stage fueling will now begin.

Flight crew, stand by.

repeat flight crew stand by that includes me gentlemen but one last

question please yes what about your family your wife sweetheart that's the

most difficult part of the whole trip two years alone gentlemen

thank you

Is that confirmed, Dr. Haynes? Right from the top.

Looks like this is it. Speed it up. Right.

This is ground control operation.

Urgent.

Unauthorized personnel clear the area.

Repeat.

Unauthorized personnel clear the area.

Well, you still think an old war horse like me can't take it?

Doesn't matter what I think, doctor.

Your technical knowledge gives you an override on the computer data to the

contrary. I hope you make it. Frankly, so do I.

Anyhow, it'll be worth it.

You know, I've dreamt of this adventure ever since I was a kid.

That's telling them, Doc.

It's the only way to go.

I can think of other ways.

Especially for you.

What's the matter? Our navigator got the countdown jitters?

Ten billion dollars' worth of taxpayers' money and we've got to put up with

clowns. Oh, come on, you two. Cut it out.

I just hope we're something more than guinea pigs for our brain trust out

there. Attention, T-98.

Stage one fueling detail, stand by.

Repeat, stage one fueling detail, stand by.

Hey, stage one.

That's the coal stuff, the locks.

What's happening?

They're speeding it up.

Well, it must be the weather. We're tied to those tracking cameras.

Who cares about pictures?

Not to get those Pentagon pen pushers off their lard and behind their

computers. Our lives depend on ballistics, not pictures.

Attention all base security personnel.

Attention all base security personnel.

This is a class one alert.

Condition red.

Alpha phase is in effect.

All civilians not actually engaged in the Astor countdown.

Report to security headquarters for reclassification.

Good alert.

They must be kidding.

Khrushchev went out with miniskirts.

This is 1975.

Even if you kept up with your comic books, you ought to know what China's

been fooling around with.

Give me control.

Attention all SAC personnel.

Report to duty stations immediately.

All leaves are cancelled.

Base now operating under martial law.

What is this? Where's the colonel? Astra Control Center will amend countdown to

accelerate launch.

All minor system checkouts are canceled.

Reset all timers from T-90 to T-50.

Flight crew, prepare to board at T-30.

Those checkouts can't be bypassed. It's a red alert, Mason.

The ICBMs are flying. It's fairly simple. This base is a strategic target.

They want us airborne.

What do you say, Doc?

Relax, Danny. We'll know soon enough.

Take off T-30.

Colonel, we can't let them bypass those checkouts.

I've got to check with security.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

We under attack?

All I know, gentlemen, is that we're in some kind of military crisis.

It may or may not be the big rumble, but you know the routine.

All bases scramble, and that includes our big bird out there.

Colonel, what about those secondary checks?

You and Dr. Perry get together and see if you can live with your pet fixes as

they are.

It's go for anything short of a fuel leak. What's the use of launching if

we're going to blow it?

You know as well as I do, without a full checkout, anything can happen. And we're

going to be out there two years.

Anything can happen while we're standing here.

Colonel Grice?

Yes.

I'm from the Central Intelligence Agency.

We have top priority for replacements on this device.

Colonel, I'm Donahue.

This is Colonel Madden.

We have special orders to you from the President.

Gentlemen, what is the situation?

Red alert.

That is all we can say now.

Russia has advised us that... T minus 45 minutes.

General, there's no time for that. You are to replace three of your crew with

three other officers. Women?

Now I've heard everything.

Colonel, this is ridiculous.

It's absolutely insane.

Gentlemen, I don't understand.

You will, Colonel, but there's no time to argue.

What's this?

Special sealed cargo.

It's to go on board.

I can't take extra weight. You know that.

The weights have been calculated, Colonel. We three women weigh less than

the men we're replacing.

Oh, and just who do you have in mind replacing?

They're in your orders, Colonel.

Dr. Brown, flight surgeon.

It's me.

Lieutenant Sharp, instrument tech and assistant navigator.

Major Williams, co-pilot and systems engineer.

Yes, sir.

T minus 44 minutes.

Pardon me, sir.

You or the Joint Chiefs or the President can order what you wish.

Personally, I think you're out of your minds.

Colonel Price, it's not in your province to judge.

Isn't it? No.

What about the emotional stability of a mixed crew in deep space for over two

years?

Colonel... We're quite stable.

We have no special accommodations on that ship.

There's no privacy at all.

Nor are we asking for any special privileges, sir.

General, this is Dr.

Marion Turner, flight surgeon, microbiologist.

Where do we put on our suits, sir?

There goes my stability.

What's the story, General?

What's going on, General? Let us in on it. Let us in. Take some shots.

Let us in.

Lieutenant Carlson, computer instrument tech and meteorologist.

Hi. Major Bronski, co-pilot, survival specialist.

Bronski, the Russian? First woman on the moon.

That is right.

Fortunately, I was at the International Space Conference in Washington when this

emergency arose.

I'm happy to say that my government has authorized me to join you. Emergency?

You haven't said anything yet, Doc. What can you say, Colonel? It's a

presidential order.

There must be worse fates, Colonel.

Gentlemen, I'd like to consult our project director, Dr.

Haynes. I'm sure he... You don't have time, Colonel.

Please get these women ready at once.

T-minus 43 minutes.

Attention, Astra flight crew. Stand by for van pickup at T-minus 30.

Sorry, man.

Three years of preparation.

Well, at least my wife will appreciate this replacement.

Good luck, sir.

Thank you.

Ladies.

I don't believe it.

I don't believe it.

You know, there must be a practical side to having women.

You mean like having your socks washed.

Everything okay?

A-okay.

T minus 10.

9. 8.

7. 6.

One. Ground control to Astra.

Everything is A-OK from here.

All systems are go and you have a good climbing angle.

Your velocity is 3250 at T plus two minutes.

Confirm time sink.

And prepare for booster cutoff.

Astrid to GC.

A-OK.

I'll go here.

Time sync.

T-plus two minutes, 15 seconds.

Cutoff T-plus three.

Read you loud and clear.

Confirm BECO at T-plus three.

We don't like Dr.

Perry's pulse here.

They'll have it made.

You can only take the second stage into Earth orbit.

Astra to GC.

Read you.

30 seconds to cut off.

Colonel Price, this is Dr. Turner.

Clear the air, Dr. Turner. How much time do we have before second stage cut in?

Clear the air.

Doctor, you will have several minutes at low G before the second booster takes us

into Earth's orbit.

The ship's gravity control is on.

Ground to Astra.

Dr. Turner has a point.

before second stage cut in. We are T plus 2 and 45 seconds.

Quench your checkouts. You've got two minutes before cut-in.

Give me a half a G on the gravity neutralizer.

You got it.

Colonel, what about Dr. Perry?

You'll have to chance it.

Dr. Perry must have pure oxygen. Now ask aeromedical for his reading.

Control to Astrid, your flight attitude is fair.

Roll sequence is programming in, changing azimuth to 75 degrees

northeast. Do you read?

Astrid to GC, roger.

Take sequence 2-1 as follows.

Cabin temperature 90.

Air pressure 5.5.

Relative humidity 36 degrees.

Sequence 2-5 next.

Danny, read off.

Telemetry and tracking are green here.

A little hash from shielding.

Colonel, I warned you not to bypass those subsystem checks.

Take it, Colonel.

Auto guidance is sluggish.

Manual override seems okay.

Pitch axis is following computer control.

Two degrees per second. Over.

Ground control to Astro.

Dr. Turner, the aeromed readings on Dr.

Perry. Dr. Turner, you must let me run this ship.

Pass to the ground.

Come in.

You have one minute before firing second stage.

Where is your fire commit data?

Repeat, where is your fire commit data?

That's Perry's sequence.

Major Bronski, get into your seat. We fire in less than a minute.

Major Bronski.

Capcom to Astra.

For heat exchanges and pressurization, give status on sequencer units before

program committed.

Astra to Capcom.

We are T plus four minutes and ten seconds.

What is your attitude for orbital entry?

Are we hitting the slot?

Capcom to Astra.

We can't bring up your nose.

Hit your overrides and fly by wire. You need four degrees vertical pitch.

Throw the automatic tanks on manual.

Bring us up.

I'm on wire.

That's it.

Fifteen seconds to second stage. Cut in.

Major Bronski! Danny!

15 seconds.

Commit the sequencers on the gas generators.

Committed. Everybody grab tight.

Capcom to Astro. All lights green.

Four.

orbit established.

Prepare for Venus launch at T plus 1100.

Venus launch T plus 1100.

T plus 11.

They're moving us ahead again.

Combustion sequence in. Purge valves clean.

Gas generators full pressure. You're A-OK.

You know, Dr. Perry might have lost his life if you hadn't.

We're thinking of one life. The colonel was thinking of all of us.

Escape velocity reducing to ballistic course speed.

Dropping to 18,000 miles per hour.

Cabin pressure up to 0.9 atmospheres.

Set control to AGCS.

And secure final flight mode.

And here we are.

The old girl didn't pop a rivet.

Venus, open your arms.

They sure pushed us out of Earth all that fast.

I got a feeling there's something more than a war involved.

You'll have plenty of time to ask them.

Everybody get unplugged.

Does she know why we're here?

No. Are you going to tell her?

I hope she never has to find out.

Yeah.

What did you read on the Doppler scope?

It's been throwing out a good spectrum.

The ship is declining.

Velocity 17,500.

I'd say we're 40,000 miles out.

We'll put it in the ship's computer and see what we get, Doc. Right.

Let's get these wires off, huh?

What's her name?

Turner. She's a doctor, isn't she?

Uh-huh. Can't wait to take inventory, huh, Craig?

I happen to think she knows more about this cruise ship than she's letting on.

Danny, get me Astro Control.

I want to talk to Dr. Haynes.

Right.

Hey, they've got us.

Think about Russia and the U.S.

Chinese are at it again.

That's news.

Picking up a bomb of static must be the Van Allen belts.

Or China.

With her nuclear toys.

What does that mean, Doc?

Well, it's possible that new device they came up with.

That's why the pig rumbled.

Well, that's my guess.

Their principle could start an uncontrolled chain reaction. That is, if

they're mad enough to try it.

Doc, you'd better get your checkup. Oh, I'm much better, thanks. Much better.

You know, for a while there, I thought I'd never make it. If it weren't for

you, I'd probably... Thank Major Bronski and Danny.

I don't know that they make them like that anymore.

Come on, Chris.

Why do they have to bury these probes so deeply?

It's less than a bee sting.

You couldn't knock, Colonel Wright.

I thought the proprieties were up.

What's this?

At least let us get familiar with the routine.

True, Doctor. We do have a long time ahead of us.

And with only three personnel modules on this ship, we should get quite familiar

with the routine.

What is it?

Sophisticated Americans suffering from false modesty?

In Russia, we are more mature.

Shall we proceed, Doctor?

When you're through in here, Doctor.

Coming, Kurt?

Oh.

Katie, this isn't a hayride.

We're here for a serious purpose.

What could be more serious than a hayride?

I don't think she realizes how serious this is.

What are you two talking about?

There you go, Major.

I can't get over it.

Putting females together with a male animal in a cage like this.

What are we supposed to do for the next two years?

Breed?

How about some checkouts while communication's clear?

You know something?

Kurt could have a point here.

What do you mean?

Well, those Pentagon computers are pretty sharp.

Sending us three women.

Well, supposing China did destroy the world.

There'd be nothing left for us to come back to.

Come on, Doc, your space had me. You'd be reading the pulps again.

Doomsday. Get him.

Well, I mean, you guys aren't taking him seriously, are you?

Those chopstick jockeys couldn't come off of the planet buster, could they?

Look, it doesn't have to be the Chinese.

Accidents could happen on any side.

For the love of... Increase the gravity. Right.

A ham sandwich?

The mustard.

This is the first time I've seen the Earth and the Moon together from space.

Of course. The Russian probes have photographed most of the solar system.

Of course.

I speak the simple truth, comrade Mason.

So do I.

And don't call me comrade.

First into space.

First to set the record for manned orbital flight.

First to... The question isn't what you did, but how.

What do you mean?

I saw one of your unannounced tries in Earth orbit.

A ruptured Hulk with a corpse for a passenger.

How many more are there?

Perhaps, Captain Mason.

We are more dedicated to science.

To science?

Ha. Make Kurt lay off, will you?

I can take care of myself, Lieutenant.

I'm sure you can, Major.

But if you ever need the reserves, just whistle.

I'll be on the lower deck if I'm needed.

He's not really a fake.

He just acts like one.

A what?

Never mind.

Hello? Enjoy your shower?

Love your homemade water.

We do travel first class.

Where's that music coming from?

Our later day Marconi seems to have broken through the static.

Who? Oh, Danny.

I think he's cute.

If you like boys.

Say, I've been wondering, uh... You got a specialty?

Uh-huh.

What?

Meteorology. Oh.

Would you care to join me on a tour of the ship?

See what makes it tick?

I know what makes it tick.

You do?

Uh-huh.

We're divorced.

Colonel Price is separated from his wife at present.

And Danny?

Sweet.

A merit badge for him.

You do get around.

You forgot Grandpa.

Dr. Perry, they should protect me there.

I wouldn't bank on it.

Let's cut out the games, huh?

You know what's ahead of us.

We're all going to be cozy together for a nice long time. Now, why don't you

relax and enjoy it?

You're very forceful, aren't you?

Do I need force?

I was talking about vibration.

How are yours doing?

What do they say?

I'm not sure, but do I like them?

They may like you.

In time.

You startled me.

I'm finding a high DNA distortion rate due to hard radiation.

Probably the Van Allen belt or polar flares.

Speaking of flares, I... What happened to the fireworks back home?

Well, I just thank God that any destruction was averted.

I could have told them they were crazy.

This whole mess was unnecessary.

I mean bringing your women along.

Some stargazer panicked and thought the world was going to end, didn't he?

It was a joint recommendation of the National Security Committee and the

Scientific Advisory Board.

The president had to act before the Astra was launched.

So in case the world did end, they figured a few people like you and me

could do a rerun on Adam and Eve?

Yes, something like that.

Look, Colonel, we're only doing what we were ordered to do, and if it doesn't

suit you, well, I'm very sorry.

No, without your glasses, you're a very pretty doctor.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I came to see about supper.

Oh, it's the altitude.

It works up the appetite.

I'll help you, please.

But, Doctor, Captain Mason has not, uh, got to me, as you say.

Ah, there we are, folks. Fresh off the space farm.

I must confess, your country is certainly first in the culinary art of

space cooking.

Well, it smells delicious, Danny. Thank you.

By the way, Major.

Remember those Russian ghost ships that Kurt mentioned?

I'd like to ask you... I know of no ghost ships.

Well, there was an early Venus Pro.

The, um, Isvestia II, I believe.

Yes, the Isvestia II.

That was lost in space.

Well, its maneuvers were much too sophisticated for it to be unmanned.

The Isvestia II was a robot ship.

There were no men aboard.

I see. Then it was purely coincidental that a certain Igor Nikhanov just

happened to disappear just about that same time.

Nikhanov did not die in space.

They would have told us.

I know him very well.

He was my instructor in astronautical science.

Yes. He was also a very important party man.

We do not mix politics with science.

He was cut off.

What's happening?

Why the delay?

A million miles out, it takes a few seconds for a transmission to return.

What do you see, Colonel?

Nothing unusual.

Still there.

What is it?

They did it.

It's happened.

Clear war.

Come on, everybody.

What's all the big surprise about?

Two years from now when we get back.

We'll get back.

We'll get back.

No.

No.

It's the one thing we feared.

Nuclear chain reaction.

Kathy?

Yes, it is.

That's static.

It's radiation.

Get me the filters.

Bring it in close.

Shut up!

But that's not all, Don.

Earth fragments.

Great broken masses of land hurtling toward us at meteoric speed.

Earth fragments, that's right. Meteors. They'll have to change course if they

get any closer.

You and Kurt get the radiation shielding up. Right.

We're going to make it.

I hope so.

I... I want to live.

I want to live!

Come on, Kurt. Get a hold of yourself.

We all want to live.

Danny.

Danny, do you hear me?

Just been sitting there like that.

He's my little brother. Years ago when he fell from the roof of the barn.

He's going to be all right.

Danny?

Danny?

Danny!

What happened?

He's all right.

I'll be asked if you need me.

I'm some astronaut.

There's nothing to be ashamed of, Lieutenant. We are all very shaken up.

You seem very calm.

My years of training.

Say, what made you become an astronaut?

You ask because I am a woman? Yeah.

In my country, women follow the same professions as men.

I excelled in science in the university.

It was only natural that I should become a part of the space program.

Were you interested in it?

It never occurred to me to question.

I followed the advice of my superiors.

I was proud to be the only woman in a class with six men.

Oh?

Well, uh... Don't you miss being a woman?

I mean... I know what you mean.

You know something, Danny?

I like you.

You do?

Yes, Danny, I do.

That curtain cuts the radiation to about 5%.

Flight crew,

secure.

Get into your seats.

Meteors.

Repeat, secure.

Meteors. Meteors.

Come on, Mason.

Our suits.

There's no time.

Hold the cabin pressure at 0.9 atmospheres.

Let's do it.

What if we catch a hole in the hull?

We've got emergency patches.

Without suits, we'd never get a chance to use them.

That damned alarm is driving me nuts. It's 15 degrees elevation fast.

We're not plotting.

We'll get lost.

15 degrees.

15 degrees!

Now, how much reserve fuel can I use?

You've got the whole return booster.

I'm not going home, so shoot the work, Skipper. Why don't you shut up?

Mason.

We're clear.

Drop us back 15.

Cut the engines.

Cut the engines.

Save the fuel.

I will.

When you level out.

course but until this media traffic bends we've got no other choice how much

fuel have we used skipper we've used 20 of the third stage tanks and it'll take

that much again to get us back on course mason relax it's only fuel we would have

used on the return trip doc we need a new course what we need is time to

collect what brains we have left what are we going to do

what's going to happen to us

How do you feel?

Lousy. All right.

Let's run a playback on this whole thing from the beginning.

So, fortunately for us, they saw the end coming and reshuffled our crew.

In other words, we've been paired off on a latter day Noah's Ark.

Well, there's nothing like facing the facts, is there?

I've got myself railroaded into a stud poker game.

Katie! Not bad, eh, kid?

Who'd have thought of it?

Katie Carlson, the girl who thought she had everything going for her.

Now the future mother of a nation.

Katie!

May, um, an older man offer something?

The past is gone.

Every second brings us closer to a new, untouched world.

Our world.

We're the lucky ones.

At least we have a tomorrow.

Doc, you got us back on course again.

All we have to do is slide down your orbit. Four months of free fall and

we're home.

Don, can I talk to you alone?

Sure, Doc.

Kurt.

Uh-uh.

Rank has no privileges anymore.

And no secrets.

It's all right, Doc. Go ahead.

All right.

We can't afford four months.

We've got to get there in less than two.

Two? Impossible.

We'd drain the fuel. We wouldn't have enough to make the Venus entry. The

Earth's explosion has tripled the radiation out there, and it's non

-directional. We just can't shield it out.

It's mostly soft stuff, alphas and betas. The gamma concentration isn't

critical. Yes, I know, but four months' exposure to it will mean just one thing.

Sterilization.

What in hell do you find amusing?

Procreation. The only thing our damn machines can't do.

And we're going to lose it.

We're lost, Doc. We can't land without fuel.

A few could.

By stripping the ship, dropping the booster shell.

Oh, I know it sounds ridiculous to say that the weight of a few people could

affect the safety of a 50-ton ship, but I've checked and rechecked it on the

computer and...

no other answer.

How few?

What?

Yes, Georgiana.

I just came in to open the ISPN switches.

Danny and Katie are doing maintenance on the digital units. Yes, I asked him to

check the Stellar B registers.

They can't get a good fix on Sirius. I see.

How long was she standing there?

I don't know.

Georgiana?

What is it?

Well, that should do it.

Hey.

Those are tears.

Something else you wanted?

Don't.

Don't your vibrations ever stop?

You know it has to be sooner or later.

Why don't we make it sooner?

If I couldn't guess.

Take your hands off her.

It's too damn crowded in this sardine can to be playing tag.

I said take your hands off her.

Wake up!

Mason, I've had it with you!

Either you straighten up or spend the next two months locked below.

Come on forward.

Jerry has something to say to all of us.

You see, the omnipresence of all this radiation leaves us no option.

We have to protect the three people who will survive.

Three?

Yes, three.

Four of us will have to thrive.

Fuel and weight factors leave us no other choice.

It's beyond despairing. Why should you despair?

In a fire, the mares are always saved, aren't they? Nothing ever changes in

space or people.

Okay, who decides what?

We have everyone's Excel file.

The computer will be programmed.

Ha! Sex and the machine.

Well, who does the programming?

Dr. Perry.

Objections?

How close are we?

Less than a million miles.

In a few days, Alan will be entering into orbit around here.

Only three of us.

Only three.

I hope you're one of them.

thought of this trip i had a whole world to choose from now now

there's just me huh it's you and me

What's the answer?

You're out of order, Captain.

Pretty fancy programming, Doc. That information is for Colonel Price. Why?

We're all in the same mess.

You're going to love this.

I know, Katie.

You must be bitterly disappointed.

No, not at all.

It's almost biblical.

A patriarch, Adam.

Fatherly, kindly.

I think it's a fine choice.

It's amazing.

The wisdom of an unemotional machine.

That man represents a million years of knowledge for tomorrow's generation.

You really buy it, huh?

I don't care what that damn computer says.

There's only gonna be one decision.

And I've made it.

You and me, baby.

You and me.

I've waited long enough for you.

You're mine.

No one else is going to get their hands on you.

Disgusting.

Come here.

Come here!

Come here!

If you ask for an impersonal decision, we must see the logic.

John, I just don't know what to say.

I'm happy for you and Katie.

Besides, I'm the oldest.

And that's it?

The computer was programmed.

It doesn't make errors. It's man-made, so it can make errors.

We've become machine worshipers.

Don't you see it?

We're so used to flying on instruments, we don't know solid ground when we're

standing on it. What are you trying to say?

He's trying to say that you and Marion are very much in love.

You're young and vital.

Essential ingredients for an infant's humanity.

Try to be an animal. We're all animals.

No rules. No more pretense.

Survive!

You come up forward, please.

Captain Mason, Katie, do you hear me?

My God.

Katie.

No, no, not that.

What is it?

Five-year supply of food concentrates. They thought of everything, didn't they?

Well, there's enough for this load anyway.

Okay.

Those are earth fragments.

Entry should begin at once.

Doc, we didn't reject the computer's decision.

Why should you?

Well, I consider it settled. You and Marion and Major Bronski will carry on.

Right, Danny?

Right. I suppose I had stayed at home. At least this way I get a chance to wave

goodbye.

I've got to get my gear.

It'll be all right.

Because it has to be.

Danny, hold it.

Nobody leaves this ship.

It's all of us or nobody.

What? You heard me.

Put that suicide, the extra weight. We're going to chance it. But, Colonel.

Hit the booster commitment.

That's an order.

All right.

Committed. Okay.

In less than ten minutes, the last stage will blast free and we'll begin

deceleration.

Everybody secure.

Look, the boys.

We never got my subsystem check out. The circuit's been shorted.

There's a misalignment in the booster connector.

Let me get it, Skipper.

He will be all right, won't he?

With the booster blast free, he could use it as a raft.

We're committed.

We can't stop the sequence.

You mean he can't get back to the ship?

We'd be gone.

Fasten your straps.

the green light yes it's not holding you've got four minutes

don dr perry where's your janet

she's gone what's the problem danny i'm trying skipper

but i haven't got enough mass to swing it it's really jammed keep trying keep

trying

million miles from home and we ran out of gas.

Georgie, why did you do it?

You needed help, didn't you?

I guess so.

This is like sitting in Central Park on a warm summer's night.

Have you ever been to Central Park?

No, Danny, I've never been in Central Park.

It was a beautiful place.

It started at 59th Street.

They're just meteoroids.

This is the Earth's best material.

What else?

got some oxygen.

And emergency power from the batteries is what's left of them.

There's no main power.

We've got juice.

We're on the air.

Oh, Danny.

I knew that your miracle couldn't be wasted. We're going to live.

How's that for long shots, honey?

Somebody's betting on us. We've got to win.

Those systems ought to come on now like crazy.

But first, let's see if we've got a home to go to.

I think I can milk 108 megs out of this rig, even in Russian.

Hello, Astra.

This is the

I don't believe it.

Danny, where are you?

This is Astra calling.

Asbestia 2.

Don't give up, Danny.

Keep trying.

Is Vestia 2 to Astra?

Come in, please.

Over.

Hello, Astra.

Are you there?

Come in, Astra.

Answer me.

Anybody. Please.

Is Vestia 2 calling Astra?

Come in, please.

Come in, Danny.

Come in, you wonderful crazy.

Do you hear me? Over.

Our craft is operable.

We need guidance for entry.

We read your signal, Astra.

It's faint, but we can beam in on it.

Keep it coming.

We're on our way.

I'm switching to manual control.

the view screen i want to see where i'm going if i'm taking this baby in by hand

i'm activating the image stabilizes business we're set on wide scan should

be able to get reception from venus surely

hello

astra all our systems are gold i'm reading your signal but i'm not getting

any audio transmission

Astra, I know you can read us.

In two seconds, we're going to boost our reception.

Stand by to confirm you're holding us on beam for all...

Astra, what's happened? Where are you? We're picking up no signals from you.

No, it's okay. We've got their signal.

are attempting to communicate with no longer exists your sister craft no

longer exists the signal you are following is a warning and you've been

able to decipher its meaning you would not have attempted to trespass on our

world

We are the collective mind of this world your craft now orbits.

Be it enough for you to know that during the span of our evolution, our

civilization has witnessed the birth and death of worlds and suns untold.

But enough.

Your time is short. You may not enter our world.

We have witnessed the self-destructive powers of the green planet you call

Earth. We have no malice toward you.

You have destroyed your place in the universe.

Last of man, listen, of this we will tell you.

Your journey will continue.

Something very strange and very great awaits you beyond the rim of the

universe. And now, last of man, your journey will begin.