The X-Files (1993–…): Season 1, Episode 9 - Space - full transcript

I'm here in Pasadena

with the NASA
Mission Control team

as they celebrate
scientific history...

the first close-up photographic
transmissions of Mars

from the Viking observer
spacecraft...

photos that have created
something of a stir

by revealing surprising
geologic information...

the presence
of large amounts of water

locked in Mars' polar ice caps,
water that some speculate

could have possibly
sustained life on the planet.

Even more controversial is
one image of a land formation...



a formation that looks
like a sculpted human face.

However,
NASA officials are denying it

as an indication
of an alien civilization.

No, it's nothing more than
a trick of light and shadows...

a geologic anomaly.

I'm afraid
the only sculptors at work

are the solar winds that blow
across the surface of Mars

at 300 miles an hour,
ten months a year.

I'm seeing... I've got...

How's it going out there?

There's something out here!

Can you repeat that,
Commander Belt?

It's coming at me!

Holy God!



Pick up terminal sequence, NPS.

You have a go to proceed.

Booster hydraulic power
units have started.

This is Shuttle Launch Control

with T-minus one minute,
15 seconds and counting.

OTC to CDR, how do you read?

Loud and clear, OVCC.

- Go ahead.
- Roger that.

OVCC verified.

Port set up, two zero.

Copy set up, two zero.

CDR Houston, how do you read?

Loud and clear.

Side hatch close out
and white room

configuration is complete.

Retracting orbiter arm.

OMS pressure on.

- Cabin vent complete.
- Roger, we see that.

All systems go for APU start.

Transfer to internal power now.

Pre-start complete.
APU to inhibit.

Oxygen vent hood retracted.

External tank
is at flight pressure.

Lock your visors
and initiate your O2 flow.

Y'all have a good trip.

Roger that.

T-minus 20 seconds and counting.

Go for auto-sequence start.

Booster hydraulic power units
have started.

Go for main engine start.

T-minus ten, nine, eight,

seven, six, five,

four, three...

Abort liftoff.
Abort liftoff.

System failure.
Abort liftoff.

Repeat: we have
an abort liftoff

at T-minus
three seconds.

What did the note say?

Just that they worked for NASA.

They wanted to talk to somebody

from the FBI.

Why the cloak-and-dagger
routine?

I have no idea.

Think it's a crank?

It's beginning to look that way.

My name is Michelle Generoo.

Fox Mulder.

I sent you the note.

Hi. Special Agent
Dana Scully.

I'm sorry to have
to take these precautions.

I flew up from Houston
this morning.

I work
at the space center there.

In what capacity?

I'm the Mission Control
communications commander

for the space shuttle program.

What brings you to Washington?

I have reason to believe
that there may be

a saboteur at work inside NASA.

You have evidence of sabotage?

I don't know. I may.

Two weeks ago

a shuttle mission was scrubbed
three seconds before liftoff

when an auxiliary
power unit valve malfunctioned.

If the flight
had not been aborted,

there was a great chance

the liquid fuel system
and the orbiter

would have exploded
on the launchpad.

This was sent to me in the mail.

It's a material analysis
that shows deep-grooved

scoring marks inside
this APU valve...

marks that could have
caused a malfunction.

Evidence of tampering?

That's what
it looks like, but...

according to the person
who gave me your names,

you have expertise

in unexplained phenomena.

And what's unexplainable

is how and when anybody
could have done it.

How do you mean?

The valve is made
of ferrocarbon titanium.

To score that material would
take extreme temperatures...

launchpad temperatures.

If anyone at NASA were to
take a look at that analysis,

they would say
that it would be impossible

for anyone to do
that type of damage undetected.

Do you have any idea
who may have sent that to you?

No, no idea, but I can tell you
that the official analysis

of the malfunction was
simple mechanical failure.

Does anybody share
your suspicions?

If they do,

they're not talking to the FBI.

I believe in the space program,

I believe in the people
who run it,

but there's
another launch window tomorrow.

And my reasons
may sound selfish,

but my fiancé is
a shuttle commander

on that mission.

Why would
somebody want to sabotage

the space shuttle?

Well, if you were a terrorist,

there probably isn't
a more potent symbol

of American progress
and prosperity,

and if you're an opponent
of Big Science,

NASA itself represents
a vast money trench

that exists outside
the crucible and debate

of the democratic process.

And, of course,
there are those futurists

who believe the space shuttle
is a rusty old bucket

that should be mothballed,

a dinosaur spacecraft
built in the '70s

by scientists
setting their sights on space

in an ever-declining scale.

And we thought
we could rest easy

with the fall
of the Soviet Union.

Not to mention
certain fringe elements

who accuse our government itself
of space sabotage...

the failure
of the Hubble Telescope

and the Mars Observer

are directly connected
to a conspiracy

to deny us evidence.

Evidence of what?

Alien civilizations.

Oh, of course.

Wow, look at that...
Gemini Eight.

What?

The man we're going to see...

Colonel Marcus Aurelius Belt...

nearly died on that mission,
had to make an emergency landing

right in the middle
of the Pacific Ocean.

You remember all that stuff?

You never wanted
to be an astronaut

when you were a kid, Scully?

Guess I missed that phase.

Come in.

Colonel Belt.

I'm Special Agent Dana Scully.

And this is...

Colonel Belt.

Fox Mulder. I'm a big fan.

It's an honor to meet you.

You, you were a big hero to me

- when I was a kid.
- Thank you.

I-I stayed up all
night when I was 14

to watch your spacewalk.

Well, now it's like
a stroll around the block.

So... how can I help you?

This found its way to the FBI.

Do you recognize it?

Sure. It's an auxiliary
power unit valve.

Do you have
any reason to believe

that the damage done to it

was in an effort to sabotage
the space shuttle program?

No.

Do you have any reason
to suspect sabotage at all?

No reason whatsoever.

And if you have any respect
for this program

and for the people who have
devoted their lives to it,

you'll be careful to whom
you make those accusations.

Looking at this evidence, sir,

would you consider postponing
the shuttle flight

until a full investigation

could be conducted?

Look, I don't know where
you got this specious artifact,

but I can assure you
every precaution has been taken

to rectify the problem.

We've been waiting two weeks

for a window to
initiate this mission.

We've got a payload to deliver.

Colonel Belt,
has an internal investigation

ever been done on this matter?

The part you have here

has been installed,
inspected, and designed

by over 100
highly trained technicians.

With the security measures
we take,

it would be virtually impossible

for one man working
by himself...

or two or four men...

to do what you're suggesting.

I can assure you there isn't
a person in this facility

that doesn't want to see
that shuttle go into space,

complete its mission,

and come back
like winged victory herself.

And in about ten
hours, God willing,

you're going to see just that.

Do you think
there'd be a problem

with us watching the liftoff
from Mission Control?

Well, being that you'd probably
go over my head anyway,

please be my guest.

It was an honor, sir.

Thank you.

Didn't you want to
get his autograph?

Where did you say you got this?

It came to us anonymously.

Well, this is
an APU valve, all right.

This doesn't make sense.

What doesn't make sense?

This scoring here.

This valve is made out
of ferrocarbon titanium.

It's...

You didn't order the analysis?

No, I've never seen this before,

but we're on outside contract
to NASA.

- They may have ordered it.
- But as a matter

of course, wouldn't you order
a material analysis

if a part malfunctioned?

Every shuttle has flown
with that same APU valve.

We haven't had a problem.

To do an analysis and redesign

would delay the program
for months,

not to mention the cost.

Is it conceivable that,
in order to avoid these delays,

the program
is being pushed ahead

without proper
safety precaution?

Look, there are
about 17,000 things

that can go wrong
with the shuttle

and about 17,000 people
who make sure they don't.

And who makes
the final determination

as to its safety?

We make a recommendation,

but ultimately the decision
is Colonel Belt's.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

What do you think?

I can't believe how much faith
we put in machines.

You think Colonel Belt
knows more than he's saying?

That he lied about his knowledge
of a saboteur?

I can't believe
that Colonel Belt

would endanger the lives
of those astronauts,

knowing that something
might go wrong.

He was an astronaut himself.

So you think
this X ray is bogus?

God, I hope so.

This is Shuttle
Launch Control with T-minus

one minute, 40 seconds
and counting.

TC is go for orbiter
access arm retract.

OTC, OVCC verified.

Roger that.
OVCC verified.

Here we go.

This is Shuttle Launch Control

with T-minus one minute 30
and counting.

Final purge sequence;
main engine check.

Copy purge sequence;
main engine check.

Switching off
orbiter's ground supply.

Port fuel cells, check.

Roger, OTC.

Pick up terminal sequence MPS.

Copy that.

- OTC to CDR, how do you read?
- Loud and clear.

Charge capacitor
energy storage banks

are all at 241.

OTC to CDR, how do you read?

Loud and clear.

CDR Houston, how do you read?

Loud and clear.

Side hatch closeout,

and white room configuration
complete.

Retracting orbiter arm.

All systems go for APU start.

Go with APU start.

BBSR power down
and ready for launch.

Transfer to internal power.

Transfer to internal power.

Gimbaling of
main engines complete.

Aero surfaces
in launch position.

MPDR assembled;
military recorder is running.

Okay. Copy.

Oxygen vent hood retracted.

External tank is
at flight pressure.

Okay, CDR, lock your visors

and initiate your O2 flow.

Y'all have a good one.

Roger that.

Go for auto-sequence start.

Booster hydraulic units
have started.

Go for main engine start.

T-minus ten and counting...
nine...

eight, seven,

six, five,

four, three, two, one, zero.

Ignition.

We have liftoff
of the shuttle orbiter.

CDR Houston,

bet y'all have never seen
a more beautiful sight.

Roger that. 10-4.

Roger, Max Q.
Lower throttle back.

Main engine at 65%.

Go at throttle up.

Roger.
Throttle at 110%.

Over SRB separation.

Roger, OTC.

I have to admit that fulfilled
one of my boyhood fantasies.

Yeah, it ranks right up there
with getting a pony

and learning how to braid
my own hair.

Come on, Scully, you have to
admit that was exciting...

Mission Control, countdown...

Mulder!

Wait!

- Something's gone wrong.
- What happened?

Something's wrong
with the shuttle.

We had some trouble
with the solid rocket boosters,

but we were able to fix it.

We changed watch, I went home
to try to get some sleep.

I got a phone call
20 minutes ago.

Communication with the shuttle
had gone down.

Come on, we've got
to get back to Houston.

They have a press blackout
in effect... chances are

the media doesn't know about it.

You think this is sabotage?

I don't know.

Things go wrong all the time.

Yeah, but they usually
fix them, right?

Usually.

She's turning.

Michelle!

I can see her.

Michelle!

- Help!
- You all right?

I'm stuck!

Can you move?

Just get me out of here!

I'm wedged in.

You all right?

I'm wedged in.

Come here.

Can you push with your legs?

Be careful.

Just get me out of here!
I can't...

Okay, all right.

Come on... okay...

Come on.

Okay.

It's okay.

Okay...

Let's do it.

Now, don't try to move.

Oh, I got to get back
to Houston.

- What happened?
- I don't know.

Something came at me in the fog

and next thing I knew,
I was upside down.

Was it some kind of an animal?

No, it... it had a face.

It was...

it was grotesque.

I don't know what it was.

You okay?

Yeah.

That's right, sir.

The charge capacitor energy
storage unit...

Orbiter, this is Houston.
Do you copy?

Your transmission
is breaking up, Houston.

What's happening?

We have a malf in the OMS
and RCF systems.

They can't get the orbiter
into attitude rotation.

Temperature in the cabin
is approaching

103 degrees, and they have
downlink transmission problems.

What happened to you?

I had an accident.

What's their position?

Just over eastern Africa.

Try patching them into
the Seychelles tracking station.

All right.

Hang in there, OTC.

The orbiter maneuvering system
is malfunctioning.

Without it, they can't
rotate the shuttle.

They need to rotate it
away from the sun,

to keep the orbiter cool.

We've got a drop
in cabin pressure...

21 kilopascals and declining.

They're going to burn up.

- Where's Colonel Belt?
- He's on his way.

Damn it! What happened
when they went to backup?

Backup system failed to respond.

I don't know...
what about telemetry?

Can we auto-activate
their systems from down here?

We cannot auto-activate.

It's like someone's

interfering with the telemetry,

screwing with the uplink

communications from this end.

Can you trace it?

It'd have to be
a digital processor.

They'd have to be
in the data banks.

- Where's that?
- Come on.

Mulder?

I'm a Federal agent.

Come on out of there.

What are you doing in here?

I work here.

Let me see your clearance.

A sensor went off...
there was a malfunction

in one of
the telemetry processors.

Did you find it?

No.

Did you see anybody else
in here?

Okay. Call security.

I want a search of the premises.

I don't want anybody coming
in or out of this building

who doesn't have
proper clearance.

I'm breaking up, OTC.

What's the attitude
of the orbiter?

They're flying tail first, sir

with their belly
towards the sun.

The flash evaporator system
is working

but it's not enough
to cool them down.

Cabin temperature
climbing to 116.

Where's...?

Somebody's jamming
our transmissions.

What do you mean?

Somebody or something

is interfering with
our ground communications

and scrambling
our uplink telemetry.

The shuttle is not responding

to override signals.

I'm going to let them
fly by wire.

I'm cutting off telemetry.

It might not work.

We might lose contact for good.

We have to give it a chance
to work.

We have to try
to bring them down.

We have to give them
control of the ship,

take a chance they'll be able

to perform
that rotation maneuver

and deliver the payload.

What if they can't?

We could be stranding them
up there.

Abandon telemetry.

Go to fly by wire mode.

They're cutting off ground
control to the orbiter.

The astronauts will be flying
the shuttle all by themselves.

Is it going to work?

OTC, this is Houston.

How's the weather up there?

Sunny and warm, Houston.

What's the forecast?

OTC, we're going
to fly by wire mode.

We're going to abort ground
control momentarily,

to see if you can bring
those systems back up.

Roger that, Houston.

And leave the driving to us.

David...

you take care.

What just happened?

They cut off contact
with the shuttle.

Negative. We pulled off
the MPG; we are manual...

45 seconds.

If they were able to execute,

they'd have done it by now.

Standing by.

60 seconds.

Go to reestablish
uplink communication.

Video signal's failed now.

OTC, this is Houston.

Do you copy?

OTC, this is Houston.

Where are you?

Howdy-do, Houston.

Looks like we finally
got this bird to fly right.

OTC, do you hear that?

Music to our ears.

Cabin temperature

stabilizing.

OTC, this is Mark Belt
in Houston.

How's the crew holding up?

They're looking good, sir.

And you all get some rest.

We'll get back to work

at about 0700.

Roger that, Houston.

Let's get to work

on that telemetry problem.

We got a big day ahead of us.

Let's just let
the electronic press

get their sound equipment set.

Are we set up in here?

Do you want to test this mike?

I know you have
a lot of questions,

and I'll get to them.

How did he know what he did
was going to work?

He didn't.
They could've died up there,

and there would've been nothing

we could've done.

They'd have been a ghost ship,
stuck in orbit.

They on schedule?

Why would he take that risk?

Bring those men back without
delivering that payload?

You're talking millions
of wasted dollars.

That's all Congress would need
to shut down NASA.

As of 2200 hours,

the crew has been conducting
on board tests and tasks

and resting up for their first
full day in space tomorrow.

I'm happy to say,

after a beautiful night launch,

the shuttle orbiter

has performed magnificently.

So much for your boyhood hero.

Colonel Belt?
Colonel Belt?

Can I talk to you for a moment?

You want to know
why I lied to them.

You're asking yourself
if this means I'd lie to you.

You know what it means
to be an astronaut, sir?

You risk your life

every time you get into
your spacecraft

for nothing more

than the good progress
of mankind.

You've got no argument
from me, sir.

You're true American heroes.

Heroes...?

We used to make headlines
when we did our job right.

Now they bury you
in the back of the paper.

Name me two astronauts
on the last shuttle mission.

You make the front page today

only if you screw up.

They only know your name

if you're the unlucky S.O.B.
sitting on 500 tons of dynamite.

That's what they're
really waiting for.

Sir, I have to ask.

I'm sorry, it's my job.

Do you think someone
is sabotaging the shuttle?

My answer to you, sir,

will be to bring those men back
safely to Earth.

OTC... I've got...

How's it going out there?

There's something out here.

Can you repeat that,
Commander Belt?

It's coming at me.

Holy God!

Uh, Houston, we just heard
something weird up here.

OTC Houston,
can you describe it?

Sort of a dull thump,
like something bumped the ship.

You got any ideas about that?

There it is again.

...taking a look
at it now.

Pull it out?

- Yeah.
- ...on this side as well?

That one right there.

Got in the, uh, matrix.

They've got an oxygen leak
on board the orbiter.

Our O2 gauges
are going all screwy, Houston.

We got problems.

We've got an O2 leak
in the main tank.

What did they say happened?

They don't know.

They just said it was a thump.

Stand by.

Uh, we have an astronomer
in Winnipeg

who just spotted a gaseous cloud

about a mile long,
trailing in our orbit.

That's the liquid O2
leaking out into space.

The exact same thing
happened to Colonel Belt

but on an Apollo mission.

How much time do they have?

Well, that's hard to know
without accurate telemetry data,

We're doing the calculations,

but it'll just be a guesstimate.

I need some answers.

And where is Colonel Belt?

We can't find him.

He was due here 90 minutes ago

to begin payload deployment.

Uh, Houston, we're up here

kind of wondering

when do we have
to start holding our breath?

We're working on it, OTC.

I need those calculations and
I need a worst-case scenario.

We don't know if one or both

of the O2 tanks
have been damaged.

Worst-case scenario!

And then I want someone
to find Colonel Belt.

We'll find Colonel Belt.

They've got
30 minutes of backup oxygen.

Beyond that,
it's anybody's guess.

Why does she need Belt?

She doesn't know how
serious the leak is.

It's an oxygen leak.

Even I can
figure out what happens

when you run out of oxygen.

Colonel Belt's been up there
in the same situation before.

He'll know better than
anybody else what to do.

He's got to make the decisions.

Where the hell is he?

Colonel Belt?

Colonel Belt!

I'm going to go get Security.

Colonel Belt.

Are you all right?

Yeah.

I wasn't feeling well.

They need you down
at Mission Control, sir.

There's been another accident.

OTC,

is your orbital maneuvering
system still operational?

Roger, Houston.

Now we're ready for reentry.

Just say the word.

How bad's the leak?

We have no way to determine.

OTC...

what's the condensation
on your cabin?

Windows are getting
a little steamy.

Carbon dioxide buildup.

Okay, OTC.

Everything's going to be fine.

I want you
to get in your spacesuits

and depressurize your cabin.

And then I want you
to vent that CO2.

Roger, Houston.
And then what?

I want you to stay
in your suits.

And then I want you
to prepare to use

your emergency oxygen systems.

And then I want you...

to...

deliver your payload.

Those are men up there.

You're out of line.

You want to tell me
how to do my job?

I've been up there
in that situation, Ms. Generoo.

There's more at risk here

than your personal life.

And if you can't accept that...

or operate effectively
in these circumstances,

then maybe you better
leave the decisions

to people in this room who can.

OTC...

do you copy?

Roger, Houston.

We're waiting
on those O2 calculations.

Michelle!

They're going to die.

You don't know that.

That's absolutely unconscionable

putting that payload
before those men's lives.

I think she's right, Mulder.

You saw him in there.
He's losing it.

He saved their lives earlier.

Did he, or did he put their
lives in unnecessary jeopardy?

If he can't deliver that payload

Congress is gonna kill
the space program.

Oh, and you think
killing those astronauts

isn't going to have
the same effect?

Look, Mulder,
I think somebody must have

sabotaged the space shuttle

because too many things
have gone wrong.

I think Colonel Belt
knows about it

and he's known
about it from the beginning.

We've got to stop him.

We've got to pull them
out of orbit!

He doesn't want
those men to die.

How do you know?

I know it.
I'm sure of it.

He's the one that
put them up there.

And he may be the only person
who can get them down alive.

And how can you be certain
that what he's doing

isn't the right thing?

That what he's doing isn't
gonna save their lives?

Now, I need access
to your records

in a hurry.

I need everything
on the Hubble telescope

the Mars Observer,
the shuttle Challenger

and the current orbiter mission.

You're talking about
tens of thousands of documents.

What exactly are we looking for?

X rays, diagrams, schematics...

any proof that Belt
knew about a sabotage.

A needle in a haystack.

Payload deployment initiated.

Roger that, OTC.

Tracking it now.

Looks good from here.

Payload delivery is complete,
Houston.

We're awaiting your order.

System check
for reentry deorbit burn.

Holy God! There's something
outside the ship!

Th... There's someone
outside the ship!

Can you repeat that, OTC?

There's some kind of... ghost
outside the ship!

No.

No, no, no.

No, no.

No. No! No!

No, no!

No!

Mulder,

I found it.

This is the same diagram
that was sent to Michelle.

Ordered by Colonel Belt.

Which means he knew
about the faulty valve.

This is from the Challenger.

It's the O-ring fitting
that failed.

Dated January 21, 1986.

That's one week before
the space shuttle blew up.

The analysis was ordered
by colonel belt.

Are you saying
he might have known

about the Challenger defect?

Something weird
is going on here, Scully.

Colonel Belt's collapsed.

- Where is he?
- He's in his office.

He was just here.

Oh, my God.

What's wrong with him?

Get a doctor.

Help me...

Help me.

How can we help you, Colonel?

He's having some kind
of a seizure, Mulder.

Come on!
Come on, come on!

Oh, it's tearing...
it's tearing me apart!

See if I can get a bus.

Help me. Oh, help me.

I'm bringing

that shuttle down.

- Sir, we need to...
- No!

It's out there!

Come on, let's put him down.

- Spacesuits!
- Easy. Easy.

- Strap him down!
- There you go.

Give him ten milligrams
of diazepam.

- No.
- He's going to hurt himself, Mulder.

He's trying
to tell us something.

- I got his legs.
- Colonel Belt.

I got... I got... I got...

Those men
are running out of oxygen.

They don't have to die.

Colonel Belt,
I want you to focus.

Focus your breathing.

Focus your pain.

Right here.

Blood pressure's 174 over 120.

- Spacesuit! Spacesuit!
- Vitals are rising.

Mulder, you're risking
an aneurysm.

Focus.

Now you're focused.

Right here.

Now, you're going
to save those astronauts

and you're going to tell me
how to do it.

The shuttle
can't survive reentry.

- No. He's lying.
- How do you know it can't survive?

The fuselage...
the fuselage is damaged.

The s... silicone tiles
are destroyed.

How does he know?

How has it been damaged?

I'm responsible.

Did you sabotage the shuttle?

No, but I couldn't stop them.

- Nobody can stop them.
- Stop who?

- Pulse is 194.
- You're gonna kill him, Mulder.

- Stop who?
- They don't want us to know.

They don't want us to know.

Who?

It came to me.

It lives in me.

It's coming at me!

It's coming at me!

Get me out of here!

It's attacking me!

Get me out!

Get it out.

Help me.

It's coming back.

That's the face
I saw in the fog.

We're losing him.
Defib.

Here you go.

Clear.

Hit it.

They just ran out of oxygen.

They've got exactly

30 minutes left in the
emergency backup system.

They're going to suffocate
up there.

I've got no choice
but to bring them down.

It's the only chance I've got.

Again.

Okay, we got O2 standing by...

Hold on.

We've got vitals.
We got a pulse.

We've got to get him
to a hospital.

OTC, this is Houston
Mission Control.

Do you copy?

Roger, Houston.

We've got some spooky stuff
up here.

OTC, we're going
to bring you down.

We want you to instigate
deorbit burn

and begin deceleration.

Roger, Houston. Kind of hoping
you were going to say that.

Activating OMS rockets.

All systems go for reentry.

They're bringing
the shuttle down.

You said the shuttle
would burn up on reentry.

Is there anything
we can do to save it?

Change the trajectory.

Change the trajectory to what?

Change the reentry trajectory
to 35 degrees.

T-minus 35 seconds
to ionosphere reentry.

Change the reentry trajectory.

What?

You've got to
change it to 35 degrees.

T-minus 30 seconds
to ionosphere reentry.

- Colonel Belt...
- I can't.

...25 seconds.

It's your only shot.

We'd have
to change landing site;

we'd have to
inform them before the blackout.

15 seconds to blackout.

I want to know what

the weather conditions are
in Albuquerque.

Are we go
for an emergency landing?

Weather in Albuquerque?

Landing conditions go
in Albuquerque.

T-minus five seconds
to blackout.

OTC, this is Houston.

I want you to change
your re-entry trajectory

to 35 degrees.

You'll be landing at Kirtland
Field in Albuquerque.

Do you copy?

Ionosphere reentry.
Temporary blackout in effect.

Did they get that transmission?

Two minutes to reestablish.

Damn it.

How much oxygen do they have?

16 minutes.

OTC, this is Houston.

Come in, OTC.

OTC, this is Houston.

Come in, OTC!

Anything?

What's the point of
their new reentry?

500 miles west of Hawaii.

- See if Hawaii can get me...
- Hawaii's picked the shuttle up

on radar.

They made it.

Not necessarily.

Albuquerque, do you have
radar confirmation?

Negative, Houston.
Nothing on the screen.

OTC, this is Houston.

Come in, OTC.

OTC, this is Houston!

Come in, OTC!

Houston, this is OTC.

You know a good place to eat
in Albuquerque?

We all want to meet for dinner.

OTC, welcome home.

Welcome home, OTC.

You're looking real good.

Yes!

The space shuttle
touched down today

at 10:56 Central Standard Time.

The orbiter
delivered its payload

after just 13 orbits

and returned to Earth...

without incident.

We at NASA are looking forward
to our next shuttle mission

and to future successful
explorations of space

for mankind

and for the future of mankind.

No... no...!

No, no!

No more!

I just heard.

Something had possessed him...

something he must have seen
out there in space.

The doctors who examined him

said he was experiencing
severe dementia.

I don't think
he ever really knew

exactly how it was
working through him

or that he ever knew
that he was...

responsible for his own actions.

He ordered those X rays
of the damaged parts.

You saw what I saw, Scully.

I think he was trying
to warn her.

I think that he sent Michelle
those X rays

like he was trying
to reach out to her

without quite knowing why,

as if his own
instinctual impulse

was to save those men.

While simultaneously
trying to kill them?

Scully, we send those men
up into space

to unlock the doors
of the universe

and we don't even know
what's behind them.

I think whatever it was,
he took it with him.

And in the end,
that was the only way

he knew how to stop it.

There's an investigation,
you know.

They haven't ruled out
foul play.

He gave his own life.

As an astronaut,

that was something
he was prepared to do.

...for Colonel
Marcus Aurelius Belt

devoted his life
to the exploration

and understanding of space...

learning its mysteries
and experiencing it

not just for himself,
but for humanity.

Lord, take this man's soul

and let it rise up
to your Heaven

higher than he could ever go
as a man.

Let him know
the true nature of the universe

that he sought to learn.