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| 1-0 Pilot In his 14 years at NASA, Bull Eckert has lived and breathed the Space Program, often at the expense of his family. When Air Force Space Command picks up a Russian nuclear reactor satellite about to re-enter from orbit, Bull suggests using the Shuttle to rescue it and assembles a crew for the task. And though the satellite is possibly leaking radiation, Bull and his crew proudly step up to the challenge and willfully risk their lives to save millions. Astronaut Candidate (ASCAN) Zeke Beaumont, a local of Brevard county, has a troubled relationship with his brother, Curt, whose football career was cut short by a drag racing accident for which Zeke feels responsible. Jack Riles is an astronaut with two missions under his belt who clashes when Zeke takes his place operating the RMS which is to be used in capturing the satellite. Tamara St. James, a Mission Specialist with two missions behind her, is chosen to do the EVA space walk with Russian Cosmonaut Andre Mikoyan. ASCAN Barbara DeSantos has been having an affair with training instructor Reggie Warren, but he becomes worried their affair will ruin his chances for his long-awaited shuttle mission. And when Barbara takes Peter, another ASCAN, up in the T-38 without authorization to help him conquer his fear of flying, Reggie fumes and says if she violates NASA policy again, she'll never see the inside of a Shuttle. Enraged over their confrontation, Barbara takes off on her motorcycle and winds up in the hospital. When Bull goes home before the mission, he finds the house empty; his wife has had enough of NASA coming before their marriage and has left. And as the Shuttle crew prepares for this crucial mission, Bull feels added pressure as he knows the lives of countless people depend on him. Launched in space, Tamara attempts to capture the satellite but finds the rotation too wobbly, so ASCAN and school teacher Peter Engel suggests sending Riles out and having them bring it in by hand. However, Riles' boot restraints become free and he is sent floating into space. Tamara and Mikoyan manage to get the satellite locked and Zeke's excellent control of the RMS enables him to grab Riles and pull him in. Mission Control breathes a sigh of relief and the Shuttle is on its way home. 1-1 In Friends We Trust--09/16/1996 When ASCAN and expert pilot Jimmy Wilson's T-38 jet fatally crashes during routine training, Zeke becomes embroiled in a crisis of conscience. Zeke peeled off from the flight exercises when a healthy rivalry between Jimmy and Wade Campbell, a cocky flyboy and Interspace test pilot, escalated into a battle of skill. Zeke served in the Gulf War with Wade and felt he must repay a debt of gratitude by keeping mum about Wade's very possible involvement in Jimmy's death. But, crushed by the loss of one of his only friends at NASA, D.B. doggedly investigates the mysterious circumstances surrounding Jimmy's unnecessary demise. As the controversy over the crash intensifies, Zeke must decide where his loyalties really stand. Meanwhile, after an emotionally-charged fight with Reggie, Barbara crashes her motorcycle and falls into a life-threatening coma. Distraught, Reggie keeps unwavering hospital vigil at her side, until he is stunned by the arrival of another concerned visitor. 1-2 No Fear--09/23/1996 1-3 Just A Rumor--09/30/1996 The Cape is a buzz with excitement when legendary former astronaut Bud Woods -- now a U.S. Congressman -- returns to the Kennedy Space Center for the first time since he left the NASA fold. Pleased that a former astronaut will be influencing the government on the U.S. space program, everyone assumes that Bud's trip to the Cape is a "goodwill" mission. Although shy about it, D.B. beams with pride to be Bud's son, the son of a real American hero. But D.B. and all of NASA are horrified to learn that the Congressman came to the Cape to cut the fat out of NASA and get rid of the manned flight program. Unable to communicate with his hard-as-nails father, D.B. struggles to understand how his dad could coolly ruin the program and his career without a second thought. The real battle explodes between Bud and Bull. Bull is outraged at the sweeping cuts that face NASA and he presents his own set of cutbacks that can save the manned space program, but they fall on deaf and stubborn ears. Ice-cold Bud and an enraged Bull publicly lock horns, revealing why Bud is so dead set against a future for NASA. 1-4 Play Astronaut For Me--10/07/1996 Confident ladies' man Jack Riles always maintains the upper hand in matters of romance. But Jack's constant control of the fairer sex slips forever out of his grasp when he begins receiving strange phone calls, cryptic packages and terrifying threats. An unknown and psychotic fan slowly invades his life at NASA, at home and in public. But when she threatens Riles' astronomer girlfriend, she goes too far. Cutting the electricity off, the admirer creeps into the astronauts' beach house under cover of night, where Riles waits to face his most tortuous fear. Meanwhile Bull becomes entangled in a fierce competition for a coveted Space Station Commander position with a slick media-friendly colleague with all the right connections. Lobbying for the job, Bull calls upon his distanced family for help. And, Reggie engages in a culture clash, during assignment to play baby-sitter to a visiting colonel from the National Space Development of Japan. 1-5 Lost In Space--10/04/1996 During a field trip to the Kennedy Space Center, an argumentative student, Tony, persists in making trouble for elementary school teacher Peter Engel. As punishment for his unruly behavior, Peter bars him from watching the shuttle launch. As the class arrives at the viewing site, Peter suddenly discovers that the disobedient child has snuck off the bus and could be roaming terrifyingly close to the Blast Danger Area. Knowing that the boy's life may be in danger. Peter confesses to Bull that he lost one of his charges. Bull immediately puts the launch on hold and orders a NASA Security search for the troubled youth. Sent home and banned from the search, Peter goes to Tony's house in a desperate search for help in finding the missing boy. Suddenly realizing why Tony is so sullen and disrespectful, Peter rushes to the one place his student could be hiding and risks his own life to save that of his charge. Meanwhile, a nosy reporter with something to prove decides she will get the exclusive on the shuttle delay no matter the cost. In contrast to the swarm of activity on the ground, Columbia's crew consisting of astronauts Riles, Sam, Blake and Kathy Wakefield must sit tight during the launch hold. Not knowing how long their blast off will be delayed, the threesome devise novel ways to pass the time in very close quarters. 1-6 Family Values--10/21/1996 Riles softens up when he spends time with a son that he's never known. Click Here For Part Two Of Episode Guide |
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