The Countdown Reflection

Howard is in a Soyuz capsule with Mike Massimino and Dimitri Rezinov, about to launch to the International Space Station, while Bernadette, Raj, Leonard, Sheldon and Penny are watching on television at Sheldon and Leonard's apartment. Nervous and not looking forward to the launch, Howard begins to reflect on the last couple of days, revealing that he married Bernadette before he left.

When Howard gives Bernadette a necklace from with a star pendant on it which he plans to take with him to space, she tells him that they need to get married before he goes to space. They decide to get married in City Hall that very afternoon with only their friends as guests. Amy is devastated that her position as maid of honor has been reduced to nothing, but is allowed to wear the dress she bought to City Hall. At City Hall, Sheldon reveals to the others that Leonard proposed to Penny during sex, making Leonard and Penny feel very uncomfortable. Howard and Bernadette fail to get married as the place closes before they reach the front of the queue.

At a branch of The Cheesecake Factory, everyone discusses ideas for Howard's and Bernadette's marriage. Raj and Leonard come up with the idea that they could get married on the roof of Leonard, Sheldon and Penny's apartment building block, when the Google Maps satellite is passing directly overhead to take new pictures and they can have the new image of the roof be the picture of their wedding cards taken from space. Sheldon, Leonard, Raj, Penny and Amy all go online to get ordained as ministers to perform the ceremony.

Howard's mother is at the wedding, albeit off-screen, along with Bernadette's father. While there is some tension between Leonard and Penny after his clumsy proposal, the five ministers each say some words before the couple exchange their vows. As they share their first marital kiss, the camera pulls back from the apartment roof to reveal that the floor has been decorated like a heart with an arrow through it, starting with Bernadette's dress - also showing a glimpse of Mrs. Wolowitz - and then zooms out further to a view of the planet Earth.

The episode ends back in the present, with Howard, Dimitri, and Mike in the Soyuz capsule. When the rocket engines ignite and the final countdown begins, everyone nervously watches the space launch from Leonard and Sheldon's apartment. Bernadette takes Raj's hand, Penny takes Leonard's hand, and a very surprised Amy has her hand taken by Sheldon, who wishes Howard well with the words "Boldly go, Howard Wolowitz." The countdown reaches zero and the episode concludes with the rocket blasting off.