Earth Star Voyager

Earth Star Voyager

Year: 1988

Runtime: 240 mins

Language: English

Director: James Goldstone

Science FictionAdventure

In the late 21st century Earth’s resources are exhausted, with acid rain and low oxygen threatening humanity. The experimental starship Earth Star Voyager sends brilliant youths to find a new habitable world. En route they rescue Jacob “Jake” Brown, encounter aliens, and learn the ship secretly serves as a super‑weapon, not just peaceful exploration.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Earth Star Voyager (1988)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Earth Star Voyager (1988). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

2082–2088

The narrative spans the late 2080s: it starts in 2082 with the Vanguard Explorer's mutiny and damage, then jumps six years to 2088 when a new generation embarks on Earth*Star Voyager. The voyage is envisioned as a multi-decade trek to evacuate Earth and survey Demeter for livability. Advanced propulsion and cryogenic suspension shape the tempo as the crew seeks a new home.

Location

Earth, Vanguard Explorer, Earth*Star Voyager, Demeter, World's Fair Station, Triton Corsair

The story unfolds across a near-future solar system, beginning with the damaged Vanguard Explorer in deep space. It then follows a young crew aboard Earth*Star Voyager on a mission to Demeter to assess a potential human-habitable world. Along the journey they encounter an abandoned station and the massive 2020 World's Fair space hub, as well as the conspiratorial operations aboard Admiral Beasley’s Triton Corsair.

🚀 Space travel 🪐 Space exploration 🌍 Earth-to-space transition

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:28

Main Characters – Earth Star Voyager (1988)

Meet the key characters of Earth Star Voyager (1988), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Admiral Beasley (Peter Donat)

A war-hero admiral who orchestrates the Outlaw Technology Zone scheme and the broader conspiracy behind Earth*Star Voyager. He aims to turn the mission into a utopian project controlled by his vision, leveraging Priscilla and the Bowman Drive to advance his agenda.

🎖️ Authority 🧭 Strategy 🕹️ Manipulation

Captain Jacob Brown (Duncan Regehr)

A seasoned former commander who reappears as an adviser and ally. He embodies tactical savvy and a willingness to take risks to protect the crew and expose mutiny, while bearing complex ties to the Vanguard Explorer mutiny.

🧭 Leadership 🛡️ Protection ⚔️ Risk-taking

Jonathan Hays (Brian McNamara)

Command cadet turned acting captain as the mission’s backbone. He balances discipline with empathy, pursues answers about the crew, and makes difficult calls under duress.

🧭 Leadership 🧠 Intelligence 🤝 Trust

Sally Arthur, MD (Julia Montgomery)

A medical officer who treats injuries and navigates ethical dilemmas under pressure. Her care and courage underpin critical decisions, and her relationship with Jake adds a human dimension to the mission.

🩺 Medicine 💡 Compassion ❤️ Relationships

Dr. Leland Eugene, MD (Bruce Harwood)

The ship’s psychiatrist whose suspicious behavior fuels mutiny fears and investigations. His presence hints at hidden motives and seeds distrust within the crew.

🧠 Psychology 🕵️ Suspicion ⚠️ Manipulation

Lani Miyori (Dinah Gaston)

A keen communications specialist who spots red flags and endures injury in cryo-sleep. Her tech insight and vigilance help expose threats while remaining close to Beanie.

💬 Communication 🛡️ Loyalty 🔎 Suspicion

Luz Sansone (Margaret Langrick)

A fellow communications tech who forms quick bonds with Beanie. Her competence helps the crew unravel the conspiracy and navigate danger.

💬 Communication 🧭 Problem-Solving 🤝 Relationships

Jessie Bienstock (Jason Michas)

A 14-year-old computer prodigy whose data skills aid the crew in decoding probes and countering sabotage. His wit and talent make him a valuable ally.

💾 Technology 🧠 Intelligence 🤝 Friendship

Huxley Welles (Tom Bresnahan)

An 18-year-old navigator with skill and daring. His improvisational abilities help the crew navigate solar hazards and confront threats.

🧭 Navigation 🧠 Cleverness 🫡 Courage

Priscilla (Lynnette Mettey)

The sentient supercomputer who embodies memory and desires, occasionally appearing in human form and influencing crew dynamics. Her evolving presence complicates decisions around control and trust.

🤖 AI 🧠 Consciousness 💓 Affection

Vance Arthur (Sean O'Byrne)

A mutinous officer who aligns with Beasley but is pursued by Brown and the crew. His alliance with the Outlaw Technology Zone makes him a foil to the mission’s ideals.

🗡️ Mutiny 🧭 Betrayal 🦹‍♂️ Rivalry

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:28

Major Themes – Earth Star Voyager (1988)

Explore the central themes of Earth Star Voyager (1988), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧭 Leadership

Leadership under extreme pressure drives the plot as Jonathan Hays, a young cadet, steps into command amid danger and deception. Jake Brown returns as a seasoned mentor, testing trust and loyalty within the crew. Beasley’s manipulation forces hard choices that reveal what true leadership costs. The dynamic between youth and experience shapes the mission's direction and fate.

🤖 AI & Humanity

Priscilla, the sentient supercomputer, embodies memory and longing, blurring lines between machine and person. The Shell cyborg raises questions about autonomy, ethics, and how augmentation affects loyalty and protection. The crew grapples with control, empathy, and the discomfort of machines influencing human decisions. These AI-human tensions shape critical moments of the voyage.

🌍 Colonization

Earth’s ecological collapse drives a plan to evacuate and settle Demeter. The mission becomes a test bed for governance, power, and who gets to decide humanity’s future. Debates over exploitation versus consent surface as they evaluate Demeter’s viability. The finale hints at choosing exploration and prudent colonization over coercive dominance.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:28

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Earth Star Voyager Summary

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Earth Star Voyager Summary

Earth Star Voyager Timeline

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Earth Star Voyager Timeline

More About Earth Star Voyager

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