Ruth Kruger is an engineer who designs rockets intended to accomplish the first-ever moon landing and her husband Jock is the one who mans them. They've designed a rocket that they're sure will succeed and Jock is set to fly it. On the historic day, Jock says goodbye to his son Toby. He takes off, while Ruth and Toby attend a party thrown to celebrate the victory. The next day, a problem has emerged. When looking through the communications that Jock had been sending, everything looked fine until his final communication that informed them they would need to send somebody up just before his radio went out. Jock had been sent with multiple weeks' worth of food for the trip and they're hoping they can send another rocket up for his rescue before he runs out. Ruth sets to work on a new rocket and they miraculously finish it within six weeks. On the day of launch, Ruth is incredibly anxious, but also hopeful that Jock will be able to board the rocket and be saved. Ruth shows Toby around the rocket just before, and then sends him off to be supervised by one of her colleagues. While the announcer is counting down to lift off, Ruth suddenly senses a problem, but she isn't immediately aware of what is wrong. She can do nothing though, and they take off, her asking at the last minute where Toby is. Shortly after, the rocket crashes and burns, and they later discover Toby's body hiding in the rocket, which leads to a funeral for the boy that is aired across the nation. It moves people to such an extent that they send funds to help bring Jock back. A month later, Jock's emaciated body is brought down to Earth and buried beside his son and wife, who had killed herself with sleeping pills.