When a Russian satellite orbiting the Earth starts to veer off course, it seems like the guidance system in the satellite is of American origin. It's important to try and fix it before it comes into the atmosphere. NASA leader Bob Gerson (James Cromwell) tries to find out who designed it and discovers that it was Frank Corvin (Clint Eastwood), an Air Force pilot who, forty years ago, was part of a team who was originally supposed to go to space, but when NASA was formed, and under Bob's influence, they were dropped. Bob asks Frank to help, but he still holds a grudge. But after some prodding, he agrees but only if he and his team can go there so he can fix it. Bob reluctantly agrees, so Frank recruits his former teammates, "Tank" Sullivan (James Garner), Jerry O'Neill (Donald Sutherland), and "Hawk" Hawkins (Tommy Lee Jones), to join him. After some strenuous tests, they're cleared. And they go up with two other astronauts, check out the satellite, and discover that they weren't told the whole truth.