The Russian Rocket Reaction
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Episode 5
- Chuck Lorre
- Eric Kaplan
- Maria Ferrari
| "The Russian Rocket Reaction" | |
|---|---|
| The Big Bang Theory episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 5 |
| Directed by | Mark Cendrowski[1] |
| Story by | |
| Teleplay by |
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| Production code | 3X6855[1] |
| Original air date | October 13, 2011 |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"The Russian Rocket Reaction" is the fifth episode of the fifth season of The Big Bang Theory and the 92nd episode overall. It first aired on CBS on October 13, 2011.[1]
The episode features guest appearances by recurring character Wil Wheaton and Star Trek: The Next Generation actor Brent Spiner. In the subplot, Wil Wheaton invites Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) to a party that Brent Spiner attends. The main plot focuses on Howard (Simon Helberg) finding out he is going to the International Space Station.
NASA selects a deep field space telescope designed by Howard's team to go on the International Space Station (ISS). Howard is told he is going to the ISS with the telescope as a payload specialist. As NASA no longer has a Shuttle, Howard will go on the Russian Soyuz and jokes about its safety by referencing the Chernobyl disaster. Bernadette is upset that Howard accepted the astronaut job without consulting her. Her father was a member of the police and as a child, she was always worried about him dying on the job. She tells Howard's mother, who forbids him from going to space. Later, when talking to Penny and Amy, Bernadette realizes she made a mistake. She apologizes to Howard, although his mother still refuses to let him go into space.
As Sheldon and Leonard start a sword collection with a replica of a sword from Game of Thrones, Wil Wheaton arrives at the comic book store and invites them to a party; while Leonard wants to go, Sheldon still considers Wheaton a mortal enemy. Sheldon says that Leonard is both his friend and not his friend, until he either goes or does not go to the party: he calls this "Schrödinger's friendship", in a reference to Schrödinger's cat. Upset, he compares Leonard's "betrayal" to turning R2-D2 and C-3PO over to the Empire. Leonard is about to leave for Wheaton's party but gets a text that Brent Spiner will be at the party. He tells Sheldon, who pretends not to care but later attends, aiming to fix their friendship and meet Spiner. Wheaton gives Sheldon a signed Wesley Crusher action figure, remorseful for not attending the convention Sheldon waited to meet him at during his childhood. Sheldon excitedly forgives Wheaton but Spiner opens up the figure's packaging, horrifying Sheldon. Though Spiner offers to sign a Data doll, Sheldon declares him his "mortal enemy".
