Capricorn One

As the anticipation builds for Capricorn One—the inaugural crewed mission to Mars—three astronauts, Charles Brubaker (actor's name), Peter Willis (actor's name), and John Walker (actor's name), find themselves abruptly whisked away from the launch pad. Confusion gives way to alarm as they're flown to a desolate military base in the desert, leaving the public none the wiser that the spacecraft is now empty.

Upon arrival at the base, NASA official James Kelloway reveals to the astronauts that a critical life-support system malfunction would have been catastrophic during flight. In a chilling twist, Kelloway demands their cooperation in fabricating televised footage of the mission's journey and landing on Mars. The stakes are high: another botched space mission would spell disaster for NASA's funding and lucrative private contracts. Kelloway makes it clear that their families will pay the price if they refuse to play along.

The astronauts remain prisoners during the flight, seemingly filmed as they explore the Martian terrain. In reality, they're trapped in a makeshift TV studio at the base, forced to recreate the illusion of a successful mission. Meanwhile, only a select few at NASA's command center are privy to the conspiracy, until an astute technician named Elliot Whitter stumbles upon a discrepancy. Ground control receives the crew's televised transmissions before the spacecraft telemetry data arrives, setting off alarm bells in Whitter's mind.

As Whitter confides his concerns with TV journalist friend Robert Caulfield (actor's name), he begins to unravel the threads of deceit. However, Whitter's sudden disappearance leaves Caulfield searching for answers and facing a series of ominous attempts on his life. The truth behind Capricorn One is now in danger of being buried forever.

Upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, the empty spacecraft succumbs to the consequences of a faulty heat shield, raising the stakes for its supposed occupants had they been on board. Realizing that officials will stop at nothing to keep the hoax under wraps, the astronauts make a break for freedom. They split up, increasing their chances of finding help and exposing the conspiracy.

As Kelloway dispatches helicopters to track them down, Willis and Walker are eventually apprehended while Brubaker manages to evade capture. Caulfield's investigation leads him to an intriguing televised conversation between the astronauts and their wives, including a seemingly distraught Mrs. Brubaker (actor's name). Upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that she was actually discussing a family vacation to a movie set, where her husband was fascinated by the art of special effects.

As Caulfield delves deeper into the enigmatic disappearance of his colleague Brubaker, he begins to suspect that a deliberate mistake was made, potentially intended as a message from Brubaker himself to his wife. Caulfield's investigation takes him to a desolate western movie set, where he narrowly escapes being gunned down. His quest for answers is soon thwarted when federal agents burst into his home, arresting him on trumped-up charges of cocaine possession - a crime they had meticulously planted in his residence. His exasperated boss eventually bails Caulfield out, only to fire him from his job in disgust.

Seeking new leads and determined to uncover the truth, Caulfield turns to a trusted reporter friend who whispers a tantalizing tidbit about an abandoned military base situated 300 miles (480 kilometers) northwest of Houston. The deserted compound holds secrets, including the discovery of Brubaker's distinctive necklace and medallion - irrefutable evidence that the astronauts had indeed been there. Caulfield seizes upon this revelation and hires a seasoned crop-dusting pilot named Albain to scour the desert skies in search of answers. Their aerial reconnaissance yields a breakthrough: they track down two helicopters to an isolated gas station, where Brubaker is attempting to evade capture.

With Albain's piloting prowess, they execute a daring rescue, outmaneuvering their pursuers as they flee through a treacherous canyon. In a daring maneuver, Albain blinds the pursuing helicopters with a cloud of crop spray, sending them crashing to the ground in disarray. With Brubaker safely by his side, Caulfield and his pilot guide finally arrive at the memorial service for the astronauts, where Kelloway and Brubaker's wife converge, their presence about to shatter the facade of deception on live network television. As the truth is revealed to a stunned nation, the audience is left to ponder the far-reaching consequences that will unfold in the aftermath.