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Helius is an entrepreneur with an interest in space travel. He seeks out Professor Mannfeldt, a visionary who has written a treatise on the likelihood of finding gold on the moon, only to be ridiculed by his peers. Helius recognizes the value of Mannfeldt's work – but a gang of evil businessmen have also taken an interest in Mannfeldt's theories.
Meanwhile, Helius' assistant, Windegger, has announced his engagement to Helius' other assistant, the lovely Friede. This is disconcerting to Helius, who secretly also loves Friede. He avoids their engagement party, but is then mugged on the way home by operatives of the evil businessmen, led by the creepy Mr. Turner. They steal from him the research of Prof. Mannfeldt, and also burglarize his home, taking other valuable material. They then present him with an ultimatum: they know he is planning a trip to the moon. Either he brings them in on the project, or they will sabotage it and destroy his rocket. Reluctantly, Helius agrees to their terms.
So, the rocket team is assembled: Helius, Mannfeldt, Windegger, Friede, and Turner (who is along to represent the interests of the evil businessmen.) After the rocket blasts off, it is discovered that Gustav, a young boy who has befriended Helius and has a choice collection of science fiction comics, is aboard as a stowaway. During the journey, Windegger emerges as something of a coward and general wet blanket, and the feelings of Helius toward Friede become known to her, creating a romantic triangle of sorts.
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