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

2-hour Premier

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

In his 14 years at NASA, Bull Eckert has lived and breathed the Space Program, often at the expense of his family. When Air Force Space Command picks up a Russian nuclear reactor satellite about to re-enter from orbit, Bull suggests using the Shuttle to rescue it and assembles a crew for the task. And though the satellite is possibly leaking radiation, Bull and his crew proudly step up to the challenge and willfully risk their lives to save millions.

Astronaut Candidate (ASCAN) Zeke Beaumont, a local of Brevard county, has a troubled relationship with his brother, Curt, whose football career was cut short by a drag racing accident for which Zeke feels responsible. Jack Riles is an astronaut with two missions under his belt who clashes when Zeke takes his place operating the RMS which is to be used in capturing the satellite. Tamara St. James, a Mission Specialist with two missions behind her, is chosen to do the EVA space walk with Russian Cosmonaut Andre Mikoyan.

ASCAN Barbara DeSantos has been having an affair with training instructor Reggie Warren, but he becomes worried their affair will ruin his chances for his long-awaited shuttle mission. And when Barbara takes Peter, another ASCAN, up in the T-38 without authorization to help him conquer his fear of flying, Reggie fumes and says if she violates NASA policy again, she'll never see the inside of a Shuttle. Enraged over their confrontation, Barbara takes off on her motorcycle and winds up in the hospital.

When Bull goes home before the mission, he finds the house empty; his wife has had enough of NASA coming before their marriage and has left. And as the Shuttle crew prepares for this crucial mission, Bull feels added pressure as he knows the lives of countless people depend on him. Launched in space, Tamara attempts to capture the satellite but finds the rotation too wobbly, so ASCAN and school teacher Peter Engel suggests sending Riles out and having them bring it in by hand. However, Riles' boot restraints become free and he is sent floating into space. Tamara and Mikoyan manage to get the satellite locked and Zeke's excellent control of the RMS enables him to grab Riles and pull him in.

Mission Control breathes a sigh of relief and the Shuttle is on its way home.

Here's a frame from the infamous "Coffee Boy Scene". Of five scenes in the premier that I was placed in the background, this is the only one where I'm visible to the camera. (I'm unfocused in the black/brown shirt behind Corbin, handing a pretty young lady a cup of coffee.) This was my first scene ever, so it's probably a good thing I was way off in the background. Otherwise you would have seen me shaking. (Not a good idea while walking with steaming hot coffee!!)

Did you know...

that the astronauts actually train for their Extra Vehicular Activities (EVA's) in a giant swimming pool at Johnston Space Center (JSC) in Houston. They use specially constructed "space suits" and are weighted to be neutrally bouyant. The astronauts say that the only major difference between working in the swimming pool and in outer space is that the water provides resistance to movement, while outer space does not.

Cast Facts:

The cast of The Cape has done a lot of research about the space program prior to filming, but they never pass up the opportunity to ask questions while filming. Corbin and his co-stars are genuinely interested in the technical aspects of the Space Program and often even ask background talent, who are often KSC Engineers or local residents, very intelligent questions in order to improve their knowledge base or the scene's accuracy.

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