The Astronaut

There are several motion pictures built around the idea that NASA faked the moon landing or other such space missions. “Capricorn One,” (1978), “Moonwalkers,” (2016), “Operation Avalanche,” (2016), and “Fly Me To The Moon,” (2024), all tell this type of story. One of the earliest examples arrived in the form of a low-budget television film shown back in the days when NASA was still sending the real Apollo astronauts to the Moon.

This week’s made-for-tv movie was “The Astronaut” from Universal Studios, broadcast the night of January 8, 1972 on the ABC network. It was directed by Robert Michael Lewis from a script by Gerald Di Pego, Charles Kuenstle, and Robert Biheller, based on a story by Kuenstle and Biheller. The movie takes place in 1981 when the “U.S. Department of Space” launches “Voyager One,” the first manned flight to Mars. The two men on the spacecraft are USAF “Colonel Brice Randolph,” (Monte Markham), and civilian “Dave Higgins,” (James B. Sikking). Randolph’s walk on the Martian surface is being broadcast live on television, but the program is interrupted by technical difficulties. In reality the space agency cuts off the video feed because Randolph’s spacesuit has been penetrated by unknown elements. The astronaut dies on Mars. Flight director “Kurt Anderson,” (Jackie Cooper), and security chief “John Phillips,” (Robert Lansing), decide to conceal Randolph’s death for fear that the government will cut off funding for the space program. Instead they decide to recruit a double to take Randolph’s place! They recruit a former USAF pilot named “Eddie Reese,” (Monte Markham), and train him to act just like Randolph. Some minor plastic surgery completes the illusion. They put Reese aboard the recovery helicopter so he can join astronaut Higgins after his space capsule splashes down. Randolph’s wife “Gail,” (Susan Clarke), has a miscarriage about the same time, and is struggling with depression over the loss. Reese tries to comfort his “wife,” and he proves to be more gentle and kindhearted than the real Randolph. It doesn’t take her long to realize that Reese is not her real husband, and he confesses to the truth. She is furious at the deception, but soon comes to develop feelings for the man. Astronaut Higgins brought back enough information about the Martian atmosphere to permit the space agency to learn how to protect future astronauts from the danger that killed Randolph. But then the story takes an unexpected twist. The Soviets launch a mission to Mars. Reese demands that the space agency reveal the truth to the world before the innocent cosmonauts die on Mars…

This is a surprisingly effective drama. Although the conspiracy story is central to the plot, the movie focuses on the emotional experiences of Eddie Reese and Gail Randolph. Monte Markham and Susan Clarke deliver wonderful and convincing performances that make this little movie work. This is a much better film than expected.

Monte Markham was soon in the running for the role of astronaut “Steve Austin” in “The Six Million Dollar Man,” (1973), but he lost the part to Lee Majors.

Part of the “Wildfire Laboratory” set from “The Andromeda Strain,” (1971), is reused here for the “U.S. Department of Space.”