What was the fate of the 'astronauts'
The character played by James Brolin survived, but as I recollect we only saw the capture of the other members of the fake mission. Maybe I missed out on this.
shareIt is never stated. It is left up the viewer. Some people believe that when Waterston and OJ's characters were kidnapped they were killed. It would make sense since: 1) Capricorn One burned up on reentry and 2) NASA could not afford to have them alive since there are people to answer to. If there were dead astronanuts roaming around, it would damage NASA's creditability and close them down since the public would have no confidence in them.
MM
I dont think its ever explained is it, the fate of the first two who were captured. For me, its just too easy to go along with the obvious idea that they were immediately shot and killed by the helicopter pilots.
I reckon they were (or should have been) taken as prisoners again and held until all three had definitely been captured. Killing one or two was too risky just in case they didnt manage to get all three of them. When Brolin's character survived and presumably told the truth about what happened, how could the baddies explain and cover-up the deaths of the first two astronauts ?
If you read the book when second astronaut found and he knew Brubaker was heading west and he ordered everyone to start looking towards the west and he hung up the phone he muttered I hope your alive Bru . This part was taken out of the movie . So it looks like the author originally had something else in mind but like the movie it was never revealed in the end of the book
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