A Moonraker spacecraft, which is a loan from Drax Industries to the UK, is seized mid-flight while being transported on a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. The carrier crashes, yet the Shuttle itself remains missing. In light of this situation, M (Bernard Lee), the head of MI6, assigns the renowned Agent 007, James Bond, to uncover the truth behind the hijacking. During his journey back to England, Bond faces an assassination attempt by the merciless hitman, Jaws, who he had encountered previously in The Spy Who Loved Me. Bond manages to escape by grabbing a parachute from Jaws as he accidentally lands on a circus trapeze net.
The investigation leads Bond to the Drax Corp's space-plane manufacturing facility in California, where he meets its proprietor, Hugo Drax](/actor/michael-lonsdale), along with his henchman, Chang (Toshiro Suga). During this time, Bond also crosses paths with Dr. Holly Goodhead, an astronaut who later becomes his ally. In a twist of fate, Bond narrowly escapes death in a centrifuge chamber after an assassination attempt. Enigmatic as ever, Drax's personal pilot, Corinne Dufour, becomes Bond’s lover, aiding in his quest to obtain schematics for a mysterious glass vial crafted in Venice. However, her betrayal is fatal as Drax learns of her treachery and has her eliminated by his vicious dogs.
As the intrigue unfolds in Venice, Bond witnesses Goodhead engaged in covert activities near the factory. Soon, he finds himself fleeing through the city's iconic canals, pursued by Drax’s mercenaries. Upon returning under the cover of darkness, Bond discovers a concealed biological lab and uncovers the sinister plan behind the vials—a nerve gas designed to obliterate human life while leaving flora and fauna unscathed. After a fierce confrontation, Bond launches Chang through a stained-glass clock, only to realize Drax is relocating his base of operations to Rio de Janeiro.
Upon reuniting with Goodhead, Bond deduces she is actually a CIA agent working against Drax, which rekindles their romantic involvement. The day following their escapade, he takes M to the lab, where they find Drax alone—leaving M humiliated as Bond presents the sole evidence discovered, a vial containing the deadly nerve agent. With M's reluctant approval, Bond heads to Rio de Janeiro under the guise of taking leave.
Once in Rio, Bond encounters more danger as Jaws, who has now replaced Chang as Drax's enforcer, stalks him during the festive Rio Carnival and subsequent thrill rides on the Sugarloaf Cable Car. After a daring series of actions, including a crash leading to a heartwarming encounter with a local, Dolly, Bond tracks down Goodhead, who has latched onto crucial information regarding Drax's frequent flights to a nearby airfield.
A climactic confrontation ensues, where Bond narrowly avoids capture and learns from Q that the neurotoxin found in the vial originates from the Amazon. As Bond navigates the river, Drax's forces attack him, yet he soon discovers Drax’s secret base. Captured by Jaws, Bond finds himself at the mercy of Drax, who is plotting to launch a fleet of Moonrakers into space. In an unexpected twist, Drax reveals his plan to exterminate humanity and create a new utopia populated by a genetically perfect race.
With a clever ploy, Bond persuades Jaws to reconsider his loyalties, leading to a dramatic laser battle aboard Drax's space station. As chaos erupts, with Bond's team fighting against Drax's guards, some of his plans are foiled, leading to his downfall. In the heat of the action, Bond and Goodhead utilize Drax’s own spacecraft to thwart the launch of deadly globes and return to Earth safely.
In the aftermath, as Bond and Goodhead find reprieve in the space of his Moonraker 5, a comical twist occurs when Jaws and Dolly, having ejected moments prior, celebrate their freedom with a champagne toast, soon to be rescued. Meanwhile, Bond’s superiors are left stunned as they receive a live feed of Bond and Goodhead in a compromising position in zero gravity, reminding them of the unpredictable nature of their finest agent.
