Steve Austin helps train the first female astronaut (Kelly) for her mission piloting "Athena One" After launch, there is a small explosion that renders the capsule crippled and the co-pilot injured, requiring Col. Austin to pilot a rescue mission with a trauma doctor aboard, to dock with Skylab and provide medical aid to the injured co-pilot. During the mission, a spacewalk to repair the solar array renders Steve Austin's bionic equipment unreliable from radiation exposure. Kelly reluctantly agrees to pilot the rescue capsule through the tricky manual reentry maneuver, since Steve's arm has developed a tremor, and they successfully return to Earth. Rudy develops a new shield for Steve's bionics that will assure his ability to return to space someday, if necessary.