The official "The Cape"
Web Site can be found here.

16th Episode: "The Astronaut Formerly Known As Prince"
Aired week of Feb 17, 1997

An Arab Prince and a teacher make their mark in space.

Plot: (pasted from the official "The Cape" Web Site)

As sensitive negotiations with the Arab Federation proceed, Washington prevails on NASA to include the son of King Alfazz, their ally in the peace efforts, on their next Shuttle mission. Although the Prince had participated in the Cape's International Training Program three years previously, Krause and Bull balk at letting someone go who is relatively inexperienced when they already have their mission planned as well as a backlog of qualified astronauts. The politicos make it clear, however, that their request is non-negotiable.

Meanwhile, Zeke sulks at home as he ponders a future outside the space program. He explores getting back into the Air Force, but it's not as easy as he had thought. To make matters worse, he senses that his brother Curt is secretly gloating that misfortune has at last befallen his golden little brother.

When Prince Alfazz arrives at the Cape and begins pre-launch preparations, it becomes clear that he will be a rather difficult and demanding crew member and not exactly a team player. Most affected by this is Peter, who is also on the mission and has been preparing for months to be the first teacher in space, with a curriculum he will teach to kids around the world via satellite links each day. Angered that Prince Alfazz's press link-ups are going to significantly eat into his time, he is further infuriated by the Prince's haughty and inconsiderate attitude. Once in space, Washington worries that the Prince, whose politics are much more conservative than his father's, may say something inflammatory that will hurt negotiations, but as always, history finds a way to throw a twist into the proceedings.

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