To keep ahead of America, Soviet Premier Khruschev demands that the brilliant Chief Designer deliver one space spectacular after another. Vladimir, Alex and Valentina receive the call to join the cosmonaut corps.

Under the gun -- and always just one step ahead of the Americans -- the Chief Designer safely guides them through flights that push the crews and technology to their limits. Only their dedication to each other keeps them all alive.

After Vladimir commands the first 3-man crew in orbit, the years of effort take their toll: the Chief Designer collapses from exhaustion. Sent to Moscow for routine surgery, he never makes it off the operating table.

His death seals the fate of the space program: with the Soviet Union now behind, even rudimentary safety efforts are sacrificed in the battle to catch the Americans.

Vladimir and Alex are tagged to lead the most audacious flight yet, a hail-mary called Soyuz. This multi-spacecraft mission promises to either get Russia to the moon first... or fail spectaculary. With no choice but to press on, the group pulls together for one last-ditch effort.

Destiny does not smile on them this time: with Vlad stranded alone in orbit, Yuri and Alex struggle to bring him home alive. They almost succeed.