What Is Missile to the Moon About?
The premise of Missile to the Moon in 292 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a dusty desert hideout, two desperate fugitives—Gary and Lon—find an unexpected sanctuary aboard a towering rocket that has been cobbled together by a brilliant but unorthodox inventor. The man, a charismatic figure known as Dirk Green, is determined to launch his contraption toward the Moon, insisting that the convicts’ piloting skills are essential for the mission’s success. Their reluctant partnership is complicated further when Steve Dayton, the inventor’s eager assistant, and his poised secretary June Saxton are discovered hidden among the supplies, each drawn into the venture by a mix of curiosity and circumstance.
The film unfolds on the thin line between hard‑boiled adventure and wistful science‑fiction, casting the barren Earth landscape against the stark, glittering promise of lunar vistas. The cramped interior of the rocket becomes a pressure cooker of clashing personalities: the hardened streetwise instincts of the escaped men, the idealistic zeal of the inventor’s crew, and the underlying tension of secrets that nobody fully understands. Every interaction is tinged with a sense of uneasy camaraderie, as the quartet navigates the practical challenges of space travel while trying to infer each other’s true motives.
Beneath the surface of the mission lies a revelation that reshapes the stakes: Dirk is not merely an eccentric engineer, but a lone survivor of a dwindling Moon civilization, sent to Earth on a desperate quest to secure a future for his people. This hidden lineage infuses the journey with an eerie, almost mythic quality, hinting at ancient lunar cultures, unknown technologies, and the fragile hope of a dying world. The tone remains a blend of suspenseful optimism and shadowed mystery, inviting the audience to wonder whether the voyage will become a redemption arc for its reluctant heroes or a deeper plunge into the unknown.
What Happens in Missile to the Moon?
The complete story of Missile to the Moon, from the first scene to the last, in 693 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Two escaped convicts, Gary Tommy Cook and Lon Gary Clarke, are discovered hiding aboard a rocket by scientist Dirk Green Michael Whalen, who forces them to pilot the spaceship to the Moon because he is secretly a Moon man seeking to return home. Dirk’s ally Steve Dayton Richard Travis and Steve’s fiancée June Saxton Cathy Downs learn the vessel is about to launch and secretly board to investigate; they end up locked inside and become passengers when the craft lifts off. The tension is clear from the start as desperation and curiosity collide with a dangerous mission that could reshape their fates.
During the flight, a meteor shower injures Dirk fatally. On his deathbed he asks Steve to stay on course, hands him a medallion, and tells him to seek forgiveness from the Lido K.T. Stevens, the Moon’s enigmatic queen. With Dirk gone, the crew must navigate the unknown together as the journey toward an alien world accelerates and the truth about Dirk’s vanished past begins to unfold. The sense of unease grows as the ship hurtles toward an uncharted horizon, and the medallion becomes a constant reminder of a debt to be paid.
Upon landing, the four crew members don space suits with oxygen regulators and are immediately assaulted by rock monsters impervious to bullets. They retreat into a cave, light a torch, and discover that the Moon does have pockets of breathable air, enough to remove their helmets and continue exploring. A mysterious gas in the cave knocks them unconscious, and they awaken in an underground community of beautiful women. Steve is brought before the queen, the Lido, who believes he is Dirk and welcomes him as a returning figure who promises a glimmer of salvation for their oxygen-starved world. The sense of wonder is tempered by a growing fear that Dirk’s old loyalties may be resurfacing in unforeseen ways.
Gary ventures into the Moon’s society and quickly learns there is a diamond mine awaiting exploitation. In the palace, Steve explains to June that Dirk left Earth years ago to return with a ship capable of aiding them, but the disclosure raises questions about motive and trust. To secure their survival, June fears Lido’s discovery of Steve’s true identity, so a delicate ruse is crafted: Alpha, one of the Moon’s blonde Moon girls, is arranged to marry Steve. Alpha enters the room, kisses Steve, and the tension between loyalty and desire becomes an explosive point of conflict. June lashes out in a hair-pulling clash with Alpha, who reveals a calculating calm even as she faces a direct challenge to her authority. Alpha’s deception is exposed, but she still insists on the marriage, triggering a power struggle that shakes the Moon’s political foundations.
In the palace’s shadowed corridors, Alpha’s bid for control leads to a lethal confrontation: she kills Lido and seizes the throne as the new queen. The ruling order fractures, and June, along with Lon, Gary, and Steve, is driven into a cave where a massive spider stalks them, heightening the peril. Zema [Leslie Parrish], Lon’s Moon ally, falls in love with Lon and decides to help the Earthbound crew, freeing them from the cave and restoring access to their space suits. A brutal struggle between Alpha and the dissenting factions culminates in Zema detonating a bomb that releases the precious Moon oxygen, allowing the astronauts to don their suits and flee toward the ship. The fate of the Moon’s air supply becomes a race against time and a test of loyalties.
Gary, drawn back to the cave by the lure of diamonds, is tragically killed in a struggle with one of the rock monsters before he can reach safety, a somber reminder of the price of greed on a world where oxygen is scarce and survival hinges on trust. As the ship prepares to lift off for Earth, June asks Steve whether she is more attractive than Alpha; his reply lands with a quiet, hopeful truth: the only thing more beautiful than her, in the end, is Earth itself. In a closing echo of sacrifice and resilience, the human will to return home prevails over the moon’s perilous wonders.
Missile to the Moon Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Convicts discovered aboard rocket; Dirk takes control” to “Escape to Earth and liftoff”. 14 events name a place, across 12 locations.
- 1
Convicts discovered aboard rocket; Dirk takes control
Two escaped convicts, Gary and Lon, are discovered hiding aboard the rocket by scientist Dirk Green. Dirk forces them to take the controls and pilot the spaceship toward the Moon. He is secretly a Moon man who longs to return home.
When:Pre-launch Where:Rocket
- 2
Steve and June learn of the launch and board as passengers
Steve Dayton, Dirk's friend, and his fiancée June Saxton realize the vessel is about to launch and decide to investigate. They slip onto the spacecraft and, caught in the launch, become unwilling passengers when the ship lifts off.
When:Liftoff Where:Spacecraft
- 3
Meteor shower wounds Dirk; medallion and Lido forgiveness
During the flight, a meteor shower damages the ship and fatally wounds Dirk. As he dies, he entrusts Steve with a medallion and asks him to stay the course, telling him to seek forgiveness from the Lido when they land. Steve resolves to carry on despite the danger.
When:During flight Where:Space
- 4
Moon landing; rock monsters attack; oxygen discovered
After landing on the Moon, the crew suits up and is soon attacked by rock monsters impervious to bullets. They retreat to a cave and light a torch, discovering breathable oxygen on the Moon and deciding to remove their suits and helmets. The revelation shifts the group's outlook on their survival.
When:After landing Where:Moon surface
- 5
Mysterious gas and awakening in an underground Moon city
Inside the cave, the travelers succumb to a mysterious gas and lose consciousness. When they awaken, they find themselves in an underground community of beautiful Moon women who seem to welcome the Earth visitors, especially Steve.
When:Shortly after awakening Where:Moon cave/underground city
- 6
Steve meets Queen Lido; mistaken for Dirk
Steve is brought before the Moon queen, Lido, who believes he is Dirk. She thanks Dirk for his return as the Moon's oxygen supply wanes. Steve struggles to conceal his true identity while adapting to this royal deception.
When:Soon after awakening Where:Lido's underground city
- 7
Gary encounters a Moon girl and discovers the diamond mine
Gary introduces himself to one of the Moon girls and quickly learns that the Moon hides a diamond mine. He begins to realize the planet's riches could impact their fate as captives and escapees.
When:During the stay in the lunar city Where:Moon
- 8
Dirk's departure explained; Alpha wedding arranged
Steve explains to June that Dirk left Earth years ago to return with a ship to help the Moon. To keep Lido from discovering his true identity, Steve arranges a marriage between June and Alpha, a blonde Moon girl.
When:Wedding planning Where:Moon palace
- 9
Deception exposed; June confronts Alpha
Alpha informs Lido of the ruse after June's jealousy explodes into a confrontation. June and Alpha fight, and Alpha remains determined to marry Steve despite the exposure of the deception.
When:During the wedding preparations Where:Moon palace
- 10
Alpha kills Lido and seizes the throne
In a power struggle, Alpha murders Lido and becomes the new queen. The coup destabilizes the Moon society and heightens the danger for Steve and the Earth group.
When:After the deception is revealed Where:Palace/throne room
Show the other 4 events of Missile to the Moon Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Earth trio forced into the cave; stalked by a giant spider
June and the other Earth men are herded into a cave where they are stalked by a giant spider. The Moon's political turmoil traps the outsiders in a deadly environment.
When:During palace upheaval Where:Moon cave
- 12
Zema helps Lon; frees hostages and returns space suits
Zema, a Moon girl who has fallen for Lon, helps the Earthlings by freeing Lon, June, and Gary from the cave and returning their confiscated space suits. Her aid shifts the balance and aids their escape.
When:During camp confrontation Where:Moon cave/underground city
- 13
Oxygen released and escape begins; Gary dies retrieving diamonds
During the climactic escape, Zema detonates a bomb that releases oxygen into the escape routes, allowing Steve, June, Gary, and Lon to don their space suits. Gary then runs back to the cave to retrieve diamonds and is killed by a rock monster before reaching the ship.
When:During the climactic escape Where:Moon cave/escape routes
- 14
Escape to Earth and liftoff
With oxygen flowing and suits secured, the Earth crew makes their way to the ship for lift-off back to Earth. As they prepare to depart, the group faces the final questions and the pull of home.
When:Liftoff Where:Moon launch area
Who Are the Main Characters in Missile to the Moon?
8 characters, among them The Lido (K.T. Stevens), Steve Dayton (Richard Travis) and Lon (Gary Clarke): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- TL
The Lido (K.T. Stevens)
Played by K.T. Stevens
The Moon's ruling queen, authoritative and alluring, she commands the lunar court with a decisive, cautious hand. Her trust is tested as Alpha's scheming threatens the throne. She embodies regal power and the danger of seduction within a royal court.
- 👑 Regal
- ⚔️ Dangerous
- 💃 Charismatic
- SD
Steve Dayton (Richard Travis)
Played by Richard Travis
Earth-born engineer and fiancée to June Saxton, he is drawn into the Moon mission and forced into Dirk's prescribed path. He must balance loyalty, deception, and the will to return home. He grows from a curious passenger to a resilient survivor.
- 🧭 Pragmatic
- 🛠️ Resourceful
- 💬 Loyal
- L(
Lon (Gary Clarke)
Played by Gary Clarke
One of the escaped convicts, Lon's boldness drives action within the lunar caper. He bonds with Zema and helps coordinate the escape from the cave. His grit highlights the human drive to survive in unfamiliar worlds.
- 🔥 Bold
- 🧭 Loyal
- 🪨 Durable
- Z(
Zema (Leslie Parrish)
Played by Leslie Parrish
Lon's Moon girl ally who breaks from the royal plot to help the Earth crew. She is compassionate, brave, and cunning, using her position to aid the escape from danger. Her loyalty to Lon and the humans creates a bridge between worlds.
- 💡 Clever
- ❤️ Loyal
- 🪶 Graceful
- A(
Alpha (Nina Bara)
Played by Nina Bara
One of the Moon's Moon girls who schemes to marry Steve and ascend the throne. Alpha's ambition fuels the palace coup and leads to the queen's downfall. She embodies seductive manipulation and ruthless drive.
- 👑 Ambitious
- 💋 Seductive
- ⚔️ Ruthless
- L(
Lambda (Laurie Mitchell)
Played by Laurie Mitchell
Lambda is a Moon girl allied with Gary, participating in the political web of the lunar court. She represents a strategic, protective voice and helps steer the humans through the turning point.
- 🎯 Strategic
- 🤝 Loyal
- 🫂 Protective
- DG
Dirk Green (Michael Whalen)
Played by Michael Whalen
Earth scientist and the Moon's strategist who secretly longs to return home. His death spurs Steve's resolve and leaves behind a push for forgiveness from the Moon's rulers. He blends genius with secrecy.
- 🧠 Brilliant
- 🛰️ Scientist
- 🗡️ Secretive
- JS
June Saxton (Cathy Downs)
Played by Cathy Downs
Steve Dayton's fiancée who becomes entangled in Moon politics and romance. She asserts resilience during danger and works with the Earth crew to seek escape. Her presence grounds the human side of the story.
- 💪 Brave
- ❤️ Loyal
- 🔎 Observant
Where and When Is Missile to the Moon Set?
Missile to the Moon is set in Moon and Earth. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Moon, Earth
The Moon serves as the film's primary backdrop, presenting an alien landscape with an underground lunar society. The voyage begins on Earth and leads to a cavernous Moon world where rock monsters roam and breathable air appears inside a cave. The presence of a hidden diamond mine hints at lunar wealth and sparks the power struggles that drive the story.
- 🪐 Moon setting
- 🚀 Space travel
- 💎 Diamond mine
- 🕳️ Underground caves
- 🌬️ Oxygen supply
What Are the Themes of Missile to the Moon?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Survival, Identity and Leadership.
-
01
Survival
A core thread is surviving an oxygen-scarce environment as the crew encounters rock monsters and gas in a lunar cave. Their ability to find breathable air and adapt determines whether they can escape back to Earth.
-
02
Identity
Dirk's identity is imprinted on Steve Dayton after a fatal meteor wound, forcing Steve to navigate being mistaken for Dirk. The Moon queen Lido also mistakes Steve for Dirk, adding tension to loyalty and betrayal. The deception tests personal bonds and the mission's purpose.
-
03
Leadership
A power struggle in the Moon society unfolds as Alpha plots to seize the throne from Lido. The human visitors become pawns in a lunar political game, while Zema's alliance challenges the ruling order. Legitimacy and ambition shape who leads when oxygen and safety are at stake.
-
04
Greed & Discovery
The lunar diamond mine represents wealth and incentive for conflict, influencing both lunar factions and Earth visitors. The pursuit of riches drives betrayals, alliances, and risking lives. The diamonds become a tangible symbol of what people will fight for on the Moon.
What Kind of Film Is Missile to the Moon?
Tense in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A tense and perilous space adventure where a crew of reluctant astronauts must navigate a treacherous moon society, facing monster attacks and deadly political intrigue with a bittersweet resolution.
- tense
- perilous
- suspenseful
- anxious
- uneasy
- claustrophobic
- alien encounter
- survival
- betrayal
- forbidden love
Content notes: murder, assassination, captivity, giant spider.
Quiz
How well do you remember Missile to the Moon? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch Missile to the Moon
Stream it on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 11
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