After PhD candidate Kate Dibiasky discovers a comet on a direct collision course with Earth, she and Professor Randall Mindy try to persuade a politically distracted President, a media-saturated public, and a powerful technology company to stop it before impact.
- Scenes 1–7
Kate and Randall work within the familiar routine of astronomy and university research.
- Scenes 8–26
They discover the impact deadline and need the government and public to respond, but Orlean refuses immediate action.
- Scenes 27–60
Kate and Oglethorpe take the warning outside official channels, entering the press and television world to reach the public.
- Scenes 61–72
The scientists navigate conspiracy claims, arrest, and political reversal as Orlean finally announces a deflection mission.
- Just before
- Scene 77
Randall welcomes the spending bill’s approval by Congress.
- Scene 78
Orlean describes launching decommissioned shuttles and satellites carrying nuclear explosives to divert the comet.
- Scene 79
Orlean asks for a pilot, and Oglethorpe explains that Washington wants a hero despite Randall’s preference for remote controls.
- Scene 80
This scene
