Yoel Gebremariam,Writer 

Sloan Grant(s) Received: 2024, University of Michigan, Discovery Prize

Project Type: Feature 

Genre: Drama

Length: 113 pages 

Field of Science: Astronomy

Stage: Development

Synopsis: 

Colonel Mike Benson, a veteran Air Force pilot and astronaut set to lead the United States’ first manned lunar mission in 50 years, faces strong skepticism from the American government during a hearing to secure funding for a new space program. Amidst political skepticism, Mike passionately defends the importance of space exploration, advocating for legacy, inspiration, and the future of humanity.

After India, led by charismatic astronaut Siva, fast-tracks its own lunar launch. With intense media buzz and national pride on the line, Mike and his younger co-pilot Quinn accelerate their timeline to launch on the same day as India, sparking a new space race.

The night before launch, Mike shares a difficult phone call with his estranged daughter Kylie, realizing he’ll be missing her prom and graduation due to the mission. Quinn shares a heartfelt goodbye with his son Owen and partner Lucy, showing the emotional cost of space travel on families.

Both missions reach the Moon successfully, and Quinn remains aboard the command module while Mike descends to the surface. There, he encounters Siva, who has already landed and planted India’s flag.

After sharing an awkward greeting, a sudden meteor storm batters the moon’s orbit, cutting off Quinn’s communications. With Quinn’s life at risk and limited time, Mike is forced to collaborate with Siva to survive the incoming danger

Mike and Siva attempt to shoot out the meteors using an experimental onboard laser defense system, but the intensity of the storm overwhelms it. Mike criticizes Siva’s panic, while Siva challenges Mike’s arrogance, but their confrontation shifts as they recognize each other’s strengths and forge a plan to “sidestep” the meteors using controlled thruster bursts.

Back on Earth, Mission Control scrambles for solutions while families watch the unfolding crisis in fear. Lucy, worried for Quinn, rushes toward NASA’s press center as media outlets broadcast updates.

Kylie, called to babysit Owen during Lucy’s trip, shares a moment with him where she praises Quinn for making time for Owen in the midst of his work, while admitting that in the midst of the danger, there’s no one better that Quinn could be braving it with than her dad. Owen, burrowing into her shoulder for comfort, suggests that makes Mike just as meaningful to him.

Amidst the wreckage on the Moon, Mike and Siva conduct damage assessments, sharing what drove them this far away from Earth as their nation’s flag bearers. While Mike ties it to personal legacy, Siva insists he flew to help driver industry to his country and greater prosperity for his home village.

With NASA out of answers and ordering Mike to leave during a lull in the storm, Lucy’s able to enter Mission Control and plead with Mike to stay to help Quinn. Mike, spurred on by a wave of radio interference confirming Quinn’s survival, agrees.

Siva’s called to return to his ship, and he apologizes to Mike, Mike consoling him and reminding him of his duty. However, after Mike’s ship fails to start, Siva doubles back to rescue him and flee to the southern tip of the Sea of Tranquility, with Mike critically injured.

After Mike recovers, it’s revealed that Quinn followed Siva to the Sea, having jury-rigged Mike’s old Walkman’s FM radio to listen in on their communications. With the mission now in Siva’s hands, he personally resolves to leave the Moon with all of its newest travelers on board.

After crashing Quinn’s ship into the Moon, Siva exits onto the surface to get him out, but the ship unexpectedly rolls, trapping him in an open component bay. Mike, still injured, manages to talk Quinn through moving the ship out of the way using a docking maneuver he taught him during the press tour, but Mike’s oxygen hoses break loose on the way back to the ship, throwing him into unconsciousness.

As the three men approach Earth, Quinn and Siva discuss their roles as the young “futures” of their respective programs. They agree that beyond all their achievements, that true legacy is simpler: being someone just one person on Earth could never forget.

The three men safely land in the Indian Ocean, with a hero’s welcome for Siva, a soldier’s dogpiling welcome for Quinn, and a personal welcome from Kylie for Mike, in a US Army bed. Three weeks later, after safely recovering, Mike takes Kylie for her first ride in his P-51 Mustang, with Quinn flying past him and saluting, his wife and kids in the backseat.