Space Probe Taurus is a 1965 science fiction/action/drama film written and directed by Leonard Katzman and starring Francine York, James E. Brown, Baynes Barrow, and Russ Fender.
Premise
Four astronauts traveling in space encounter alien species as they search for a planet that humans may inhabit.
Plot
The story opens in the late 20th century, when manned missions to outer space are becoming quite common. However, a distress call from mission Faith I requests destruction of their space vessel, as it has been contaminated by an "infectious gas" leaving all crew dead but the commander. The mission is aborted and the ship destroyed. By the year 2000, new propulsion technology has been developed. Four astronauts aboard the spaceship Hope One set off to find new planets for colonization. Their mission takes them past a space platform circling the Earth. General Mark Tillman at Earth Control HQ tells a TV reporter that all is going according to the pre-flight plan. The crew of gravity-controlled Hope One consists of the pilot/captain, Colonel Hank Stevens, and three scientists: grandstander Dr. John Andros, the elderly mentor Dr. Paul Martin, and "the woman" Dr. Lisa Wayne. We quickly learn that Stevens didn't want a woman on the mission, but he's stuck with Dr. Wayne, who doesn't have much respect for his sexism either. Not long into their voyage, Hope One comes upon an unknown spacecraft. Earth Control instructs them to investigate and they encounter a grotesque alien. Unfortunately, the alien attacks Dr. Andros, forcing Stevens to shoot and kill the extraterrestrial. Then, radiation levels rise on the alien craft, so Stevens sets a bomb to blow it up. Unsurprisingly, Earth Control condones this activity, with crew safety taking priority over scientific discovery. After a fiery meteorite storm leads to an emergency landing in the ocean of an Earth-like "escaped moon," repairs are the first priority but Tillman takes time to apologize to Wayne for his sexist remarks, which results in a quick reconciliation and a more-than-friendly kiss. While repairs continue, giant crabs take an interest in the ship. The crew decides to test the atmosphere to see if it contains breathable air, which it does. Then, Andros volunteers to go scout the nearest land mass. A "sea monster" almost intercepts him, but the scientist reaches shore, while his comrades continue repairs and worry about him. Upon his return to the ship, Andros is attacked by the sea monster and, after making it back to the ship, perishes after confirming the planet can support human life and plants could grow on the new planet. The crew confirms this to Earth, names the planet Andros One, and rockets back to Earth.
