Space Cowboys (2000)

Synopsis: In 1958, the members of Team Daedalus, a cocky unit of top Air Force test pilots, were ready to serve their country as the first Americans in space. When NASA replaced the Air Force for outer atmospheric testing, Team Daedalus was pushed aside and a chimpanzee named Sam got the honor. The team... In 1958, the members of Team Daedalus, a cocky unit of top Air Force test pilots, were ready to serve their country as the first Americans in space. When NASA replaced the Air Force for outer atmospheric testing, Team Daedalus was pushed aside and a chimpanzee named Sam got the honor. The team retired, but the dream of going into space never died.

Now, 42 years later, Frank Corvin (CLINT EASTWOOD), Hawk Hawkins (TOMMY LEE JONES), Jerry O’Neil (DONALD SUTHERLAND) and Tank Sullivan (JAMES GARNER) have been reunited. A satellite Frank designed, code-named Ikon, has suffered a systems failure and, if not repaired, will slam into the earth at more than 300 miles per hour. Ikon is a Russian relay station. It doesn’t respond to Mission Control and blowing it up would cause a massive communications blackout throughout the Soviet Union. Scrambling for a solution, NASA resolves to mount a special mission to make the repairs in space. Unfortunately for NASA, there’s only one man alive who can do the job. This is the chance of a lifetime. Frank Corvin will take the deal and he wants the only crew he trusts to do the job with him.

Frank, Hawk, Jerry and Tank stretch the rules and strain the patience of Eugene Davis (WILLIAM DEVANE), their Flight Commander, as well as their much younger counterparts, Ethan Glance (LOREN DEAN) and Roger Hines (COURTNEY B. VANCE). Seasoned veterans with an attitude, they relish the opportunity to show their stuff. They will be tested and they will need every ounce of strength and resourcefulness to make it through their abbreviated training, complete their mission and stop Ikon. The heroic challenge has arrived.

Let the countdown begin. [More]