:38:02
...an emergency rescue operation.
:38:04
The average staging time for
a mission is 12 months.
:38:08
We're doing this one in 30 days.
:38:14
In 1986...
:38:16
...the former Soviet Union launched
communications satellite Ikon.
:38:21
- Ikon is a link...
- I'll tell you about it later.
:38:24
...in Russia's
telecommunications chain.
:38:26
Her orbit is rapidly decaying.
:38:29
She will reenter
the Earth's atmosphere in 30 days.
:38:33
Your mission
is to intercept and capture her...
:38:36
...using the shuttle's grappling arm.
:38:38
You will then have a 42-hour window...
:38:41
...in which to repair
her guidance system.
:38:44
From there she'll be reconfigured
by Mission Control.
:38:47
After that, you'll shoot
her back into geosync orbit...
:38:50
...using the payload assist
module rockets.
:38:57
Any questions?
:38:59
Question.
:39:01
With all due respect to the guys,
why don't we just capture the bird...
:39:06
...bring it home with a crew
trained in satellite retrieval?
:39:10
It's too big, Gene.
:39:13
Too big?
:39:16
For the space shuttle?
:39:22
How did you guys get it up there
in the first place?
:39:26
There were modifications
post-deployment.
:39:30
Listen up, people.
:39:34
This system has to be fixed on-site.
:39:36
Frank is the only engineer...
:39:38
...proficient in
such obsolete technology.
:39:43
Given the short amount of time...
:39:46
...he's the only engineer
to do the job.
:39:51
So Frank Corvin's band of...
:39:55
...Leisure World aviators
are going into space.
:39:58
NASA agree to all this?
Did the Russians?