Space Cowboys
prev.
play.
mark.
next.

:36:08
As you all know, these men
are the pioneers of this business.

:36:11
They were around
when rockets were born.

:36:14
Welcome, gentlemen.
:36:18
STS-200 was originally slated
to deliver a structural payload...

:36:22
...to the International Space Station.
:36:25
Circumstances have forced us to push
back that mission and undertake...

:36:29
...an emergency rescue operation.
:36:31
The average staging time for
a mission is 12 months.

:36:35
We're doing this one in 30 days.
:36:40
In 1986...
:36:42
...the former Soviet Union launched
communications satellite Ikon.

:36:47
- Ikon is a link...
- I'll tell you about it later.

:36:49
...in Russia's
telecommunications chain.

:36:52
Her orbit is rapidly decaying.
:36:55
She will reenter
the Earth's atmosphere in 30 days.

:36:58
Your mission
is to intercept and capture her...

:37:01
...using the shuttle's grappling arm.
:37:03
You will then have a 42-hour window...
:37:06
...in which to repair
her guidance system.

:37:09
From there she'll be reconfigured
by Mission Control.

:37:12
After that, you'll shoot
her back into geosync orbit...

:37:15
...using the payload assist
module rockets.

:37:21
Any questions?
:37:23
Question.
:37:25
With all due respect to the guys,
why don't we just capture the bird...

:37:30
...bring it home with a crew
trained in satellite retrieval?

:37:33
It's too big, Gene.
:37:36
Too big?
:37:39
For the space shuttle?
:37:45
How did you guys get it up there
in the first place?

:37:49
There were modifications
post-deployment.

:37:53
Listen up, people.
:37:56
This system has to be fixed on-site.
:37:59
Frank is the only engineer...

prev.
next.