In the near future, the first American astronaut prepares to set foot on Mars, with the world watching live on television. However, the astronaut dies on Mars due to unknown causes. To maintain funding and secrecy, NASA recruits a double with a resemblance to the astronaut, telling him that the impersonation will be brief. As the double's home life becomes increasingly strained, he decides to fake his own death, but a real death is arranged by an unscrupulous NASA official. Meanwhile, Russia announces its own Mars mission, based on America's success. A scrupulous NASA official feels that continued silence is tantamount to murder and decides to reveal the truth to the President.
The Astronaut
A space program on the brink of cancellation is saved when officials replace a deceased astronaut with a lookalike, sparking a mission that could have far-reaching consequences.
