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ABC THURSDAY NIGHT MOVIE: MAX Q: EMERGENCY LANDING (TV)

Summary

This made-for-television production is about a group of astronauts trying to return to Earth when their space shuttle develops problems. The program begins with Clay Jarvis and Scott Hines in a NASA simulator, trying to "navigate" a space shuttle back home to Houston. Nearing their landing, Clay and Scott notice that they are coming in at an angle that's too steep and the exercise is aborted. Ground control's Rena Winter mocks the two pilots for choking under pressure. Rena tells Clay that she is heading to Florida to see the launch with her ex-boyfriend Frank. At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, there is T-minus 38 days until the launch of the Endeavor space shuttle. Clay visits administrator Oz Gilbert, who introduces him to journalist Jonah Randall. Clay isn't pleased to hear that Jonah is going to be a crewman on the mission, shooting a documentary for his employer, Kaysat. Clay also learns that the NASA mission is co-sponsored by Kaysat, which is funding the Endeavor's release of their high-tech communications satellite. A week later, at a NASA reception, Scott and Clay meet Elliot Henschel, Jonah's boss at Kaysat. Elliot also meets mission specialist researcher Karen Daniels, the fourth member of the flight crew. Later, Clay complains to his mentor, Don Mitchum, about the future of space exploration. With T-minus ten days until the launch, Clay and Don attend a barbecue at Scott's house. Scott's pregnant wife Melissa is worried about her immediate future with Scott in space. At the party, Clay flirts with Rena as she displays her "domestic" side. Meanwhile, Jonah films Karen's husband John and young son Michael, asking them about their reactions to the mission.

On T-minus two days, Jonah gets drunk at the Max Q Bar, where he learns that "max Q" refers to the period of maximum aerodynamic stress as the space shuttle throttles down. Don arrives and Jonah tells him that the mission seems "fairly routine." On the day of the launch, Clay, Scott, Karen, and Jonah prepare to leave. The Endeavor is soon in space, with all the astronauts feeling fine except the squeamish Jonah. Unbeknownst to the crew, a part of the satellite begins to give off sparks. By the next morning, Jonah has begun his documentary. Then, Endeavor tries to deploy the Kaysat satellite. Clay notices that one of the solar panels isn't fully extended and the satellite can't be powered up correctly. Elliot insists that that the astronauts perform a two-second "burn," which ultimately propels the satellite but sends Endeavor into a tailspin. Back home, Rena hears of the explosion aboard the Endeavor. Jonah takes a blow and begins bleeding as Clay and Scott try to stabilize the spacecraft. Clay and Scott soon realize that the auxiliary power units and landing gear have been "fried" and that they will need to fix them. Don calls from Houston to offer assistance. Meanwhile, the astronauts open up a fusebox, trying to figure out how to repair the damage. Elliot secretly communicates with Jonah, asking him to continue filming. John and Michael make a beeline for NASA, where they're consoled by Melissa. Meanwhile, Karen finds a fire on middeck. Clay realizes that they will have to cut themselves off from the main area of the shuttle and hole up inside the research lab, allowing the lack of oxygen in middeck to smother the flames. Don proposes a rescue mission to save the Endeavor astronauts. He thinks they have seven days until they hit the atmosphere and thinks a rescue mission must be pulled off within two days.

Meanwhile, Michael gets to speak with his fearful mother, wondering when she will be back home. The astronauts learn that the shuttle Discovery is approved to rescue Endeavor. As John tries to console Melissa, the astronauts power-down to save energy. After much thought, Clay tells Don over a closed line to scrub the rescue mission, thinking it futile. Later, Clay powers up the shuttle again and informs Bob Matthews of ground control that he has aborted the rescue. Scott is angered but Karen and Jonah support Clay's decision. Clay asks NASA for data to help the astronauts repair the craft. Scott talks to Melissa but doesn't reveal the truth about their dire circumstances. Later, Clay speaks to Rena, who brainstorms with him about possible repairs. John and Melissa talk about the travails of being married to astronauts. On the ground, Rena comes up with a solution and sprints to the mission control room. Meanwhile, Clay prepares to exit the shuttle to make repairs, refusing to let Karen join him. Meanwhile, Elliot tries to convince Jonah to get continued footage of the astronauts, specifically getting them to say that NASA is at fault. Outside of the shuttle, Clay begins work while Rena commandeers a mission control post in order to communicate with him. They struggle to repair the Endeavor's auxiliary power units, with the first attempt a failure. After getting instructions on how to release hydraulic pressure, Clay accidentally rips his suit. He begins leaking oxygen, giving him only four minutes to complete the repairs. Rena gets flustered as she tries to give the correct orders. With his time almost gone, Clay doesn't reenter the air lock and his oxygen disappears. He struggles to cut off his fuel-soaked gloves before finally getting back into the shuttle. Jonah and Karen are impresesed by Clay's bravery. Clay's efforts work as one of the auxiliary power units is finally able to restart.

The Endeavor prepares for its emergency landing, though Bob thinks it is suicide. As Elliott tells Jonah to resume filming, Elliot quits Kaysat. Later, Don instructs Clay on finding a "soft spot" on which to land. The shuttle heats up upon reentering the atmosphere but safely continues. Clay and Scott begin to fly the careening ship in manual as they head for Edwards Air Force base. Clay struggles to turn the shuttle as it speeds toward the ocean. Rena figures out a solution for steering and Clay follows her advice. Clay opts to bring the Endeavor down on a California highway. Though cars are in the way, Clay takes the chance and is able to safely land the shuttle with minimal damage. At the space center, all cheer the astronauts' successful landing. Later, Jonah meets Elliot at the Max Q bar, with Elliot having lost his job due to his scheming. Finally, Clay and Rena go for a drive on a deserted roadway, ending up in each other's arms. Includes commercials.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: November 19, 1998 9:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:54:57
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:55068
  • GENRE: Drama, mystery/suspense
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, mystery/suspense; Space exploration; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1998
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - "American History X" motion picture
    • TV - Commercials - "Armageddon" home video
    • TV - Commercials - "Enemy of the State" motion picture
    • TV - Commercials - AT&T calling plans
    • TV - Commercials - Certs mints
    • TV - Commercials - Coalition on Donation for organs and tissues
    • TV - Commercials - Crest internet site
    • TV - Commercials - DirecTV satellite television
    • TV - Commercials - Dodge automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Easy-Off oven cleaner
    • TV - Commercials - Excedrin Migraine pain reliever
    • TV - Commercials - FedEx shipping
    • TV - Commercials - Finesse hair care
    • TV - Commercials - Gateway computers
    • TV - Commercials - Glade scented candles
    • TV - Commercials - Haggar Black Label clothing
    • TV - Commercials - Jeep automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - K-Mart stores
    • TV - Commercials - Listerine mouthwash
    • TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Milkfuls candies
    • TV - Commercials - Olive Garden restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Pringles chips
    • TV - Commercials - Reynolds Wrap foil
    • TV - Commercials - Sears stores
    • TV - Commercials - Sprint calling plans
    • TV - Commercials - Target stores
    • TV - Commercials - Tavist-D sinus medication
    • TV - Commercials - The Alliance for Youth mentoring program
    • TV - Commercials - The Home Depot stores
    • TV - Commercials - The Reiner Foundation
    • TV - Commercials - Thermasilk hair care
    • TV - Commercials - Wendy's restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Yoplait yogurt
    • TV - Commercials - Zales diamond stores
    • TV - Commercials - Zyrtec allergy medication
    • TV - Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc.
    • TV - Promos - "20/20"
    • TV - Promos - "Billy Madison"
    • TV - Promos - "Cupid"
    • TV - Promos - "Eyewitness News"
    • TV - Promos - "Monday Night Football"
    • TV - Promos - "NYPD Blue"
    • TV - Promos - "Nightline"
    • TV - Promos - "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher"
    • TV - Promos - "Rear Window"

CREDITS

  • Jerry Bruckheimer … Executive Producer
  • David Roessell … Producer
  • Jonathan Littman … Co-Producer
  • Michael Shapiro … Director
  • Marty Kaplan … Writer
  • Robert J. Avrech … Writer
  • Nick Glennie-Smith … Music by
  • Bill Campbell … Cast, Clay Jarvis
  • Paget Brewster … Cast, Rena Winter
  • Ned Vaughn … Cast, Scott Hines
  • Geoffrey Blake … Cast, Jonah Randall
  • Tasha Smith … Cast, Karen Daniels
  • Denis Arndt … Cast, Don Mitchum
  • Christopher John Fields … Cast, Elliot Henschel
  • Kevin McNulty … Cast, Oz Gilbert
  • Leslie Horan … Cast, Melissa Hines
  • Chris Ellis … Cast, Bob Matthews
  • Greg Michaels … Cast, Rusty Porter
  • Peter Bryant … Cast, John Daniels
  • Tracy New … Cast, Tom Pierson
  • B.J. Harrison … Cast, Emily
  • Neil Denis … Cast, Michael Daniels
  • Michael Rogers … Cast, Frank
  • Dmitry Chepovetsky … Cast, Kaysat Controller
  • Mitchell Kosterman … Cast, Bobby
  • Kate Luyben … Cast, Ruby
  • Jill Krop … Cast, Newscaster
  • Suzette Meyers … Cast, Anchorman
  • Christopher Kennedy … Cast, Flight Controller