Apollo 24 tries its damndest to get to the moon (thanks to the uncommanded fuel burn of the previous episode they would overshoot it by 1000 miles) and Ed helps while also getting to know his Soviet "guest" on Jamestown
This episode provides examples of:
- Alternate History: The Sea Dragon, a rocket concept that never made it off the drawing board in our timeline, is shown blasting off for the Moon after the end credits.
- Americans Are Cowboys: Well, Mikhail says so, at least.
- Batman Gambit: Mikhail knows Ed won't kill him, even if he suggests that Murder Is the Best Solution.
- Call-Back:
- Remember when Deke said "John Glenn wasn't John Glenn before he became John Glenn"? Well, now he compares Ellen to John Glenn...
- What does Ellen see on the Fax machine as she is now the only American on the moon? Why one of Gordo's ants of course...
- Cold Open: The entire sequence from Ellen waking up to Deke being pulled into the ship happens before the opening credits roll.
- Death by Adaptation: Deke Slayton does not make it. In Real Life, he died in 1995.
- Internal Reveal: Ellen tells Deke she's gay. Deke doesn't take it well and advises her to tell no one else because that's all they will see. She follows his advice.
- Married to the Job: Margo says "This job. It's all-consuming."
- Maternally Challenged: Margo does not know what to say when Aleida asks her to stay with her.
- My God, You Are Serious!: Deke's initial reaction to Ellen revealing she is dating Pam.
- Noble Bigot: Deke's reaction to Ellen telling him she's gay is not great, but he recovers and gives her advice on how to handle it going forward because he still believes in her.
- Nostalgia Filter: President Ted Kennedy calls out Reagan for his "everything was better back in the day" - except U.S. history up to that point wasn't all that nice in Kennedy's recollection.
- Post-Credits Scene: We get to see a Sea Dragon launch right after the credits have mostly finished.
- Stock Foreign Name: Ed keeps calling his Soviet "guest" by the name "Ivan". We find out in this episode that his actual name is Mikhail.
- Space Is an Ocean: That's what Mikhail tells Ed. He also reminds him about International Maritime Law requiring assistance in rescue missions.
