Rocketship X-M - Plot Synopsis

Plot Synopsis

Four men and a woman blast into outer space from the White Sands Proving Ground aboard the RX-M (Rocketship Expedition-Moon) on humanity's first expedition to Luna. Halfway to their destination, the RX-M's engines shut down; the problem is resolved by recalculating the fuel mixture ratios and then moving around some of the propellent tanks and their connecting hoses. When the engines are reignited, the RX-M rapidly careens out-of-control, accidentally setting the ship on a runaway course heading beyond the Moon and into deep space. During this burst of rapid acceleration, the crew become unconscious, one by one, due to a change in the oxygen pressure; the engine is shut down just in time. At some later time, perhaps many days, they slowly come around, but the crew soon discovers the RX-M has traveled some 50,000,000 miles while they were unconscious. Against all odds, the surprising sequence of events has put them on a precise course heading toward Mars. They also notice the ship's speed is still increasing, this time due to gravitational attraction: The Red Planet is drawing them in, and they are now only 50,000 miles away. This causes Dr. Karl Eckstrom to "pause and observe respectfully while something infinitely greater assumes control."

The RX-M passes through the Martian atmosphere and begins its landing, eventually setting down just as a rain storm begins. The next morning the scientists begin exploring the desolate surface of Mars, eventually coming across physical evidence of a now dead advanced civilization: a partially buried-in-the-sand, stylized, Art Deco-like metal face sculpture and in the distance a dynamo-shaped building and other ruins. Their Geiger counter registers a dangerous radiation count in that direction, keeping them well away; from the levels of radiation in this "city," it is clear that a long time ago there was an atomic war on Mars. After the explorers find refuge for the night in a canyon cave, they begin to see the primitive descendents of that civilization emerging from behind boulders and creeping toward them. Amazed, Dr. Eckstrom observes: "From Atomic Age to Stone Age." Soon after leaving the cave, two of the explorers encounter a dark-haired young woman who has lost her footing and rolled down a hill toward them; she is blind and has thick, milky cataracts on both eyes. She screams in terror at the sound of their oxygen mask muffled voices. They quickly retreat, and she is quickly led away by two bald, radiation scarred tribesmen; the primitives then attack, throwing large rocks and stone axes. Armed with only a bolt-action rifle and .38 revolver, with minimal ammunition for each weapon, the explorers appear to defend themselves, purposely shooting at and missing their pursuers. Two are killed during the pursuit, including Dr. Eckstrom, and one is badly injured by a large, thrown rock. The survivors eventually make their way back to the safety of the RX-M.

The return voyage proves to be only a partial success: while the RX-M manages to make it back to Earth, the survivors soon discover they have inadequate fuel remaining for a safe landing. Col. Graham contacts their White Sands base by radio and reports their dire status to Dr. Fleming, who listens intently over headphones. From Fleming's stunned expression, it is clear Graham reports their unexpected odyssey, its three crew fatalities, their discovery on Mars of a once advanced human civilization destroyed long ago by atomic war, and its descendants reverted to barbarism.

The RX-M begins its uncontrolled descent and Col. Graham and Dr. Van Horn embrace while consoling one another in the remaining moments left to them. Through the crew cabin's large porthole, they bravely watch their rapid decent, as the RX-M comes straight in at full speed, crashing into a remote mountain range in Nova Scotia. The press is later informed by a shaken Dr. Fleming that the entire crew has perished. When asked if their mission was a failure, he responds with confidence and conviction in his voice, stating that all theories about manned spaceflight and exploration have now been proven. He continues, underscoring the point that a dire warning has been received that could very well mean the salvation of humanity, "A new spaceship, the RXM-2, begins construction tomorrow." The pioneering exploration begun by the first RX-M's heroic crew will continue: This is only the beginning.