The Russian Rocket Reaction

"The Russian Rocket Reaction" is the 92nd episode of *The Big Bang Theory*, airing as the fifth installment of season five on CBS on October 13, 2011. Guest stars include Wil Wheaton, a recurring character, and Brent Spiner, known for *Star Trek: The Next Generation*.

In the main storyline, Howard’s team designs a deep-space telescope selected by NASA for the International Space Station. Howard learns he will accompany it as a payload specialist, traveling via Russian Soyuz since the Shuttle is retired. He jokes about the Soyuz’s safety by referencing Chernobyl. Bernadette is angry that Howard accepted the mission without discussing it with her; her father was a police officer, and as a child she constantly feared he would die on duty. She tells Howard’s mother, who forbids him from going. Later, after talking with Penny and Amy, Bernadette realizes she overreacted and apologizes to Howard, though his mother remains opposed.

The subplot involves Sheldon and Leonard starting a sword collection with a replica from *Game of Thrones*. Wil Wheaton visits the comic book store and invites them to a party. Leonard wants to go, but Sheldon still views Wheaton as a mortal enemy. Sheldon declares that Leonard is both his friend and not his friend until he either attends or skips the party—calling it “Schrödinger’s friendship,” a nod to Schrödinger’s cat. He compares Leonard’s potential betrayal to handing R2-D2 and C-3PO over to the Empire. Leonard is about to leave when he gets a text that Brent Spiner will be at the party. He tells Sheldon, who pretends indifference but later shows up, hoping to repair their friendship and meet Spiner. Wheaton gives Sheldon a signed Wesley Crusher action figure, apologizing for missing a convention Sheldon waited for as a child. Sheldon forgives him excitedly, but Spiner opens the figure’s packaging, horrifying Sheldon. Though Spiner offers to sign a Data doll, Sheldon declares him his new mortal enemy.

The episode aired on October 13, 2011, at 8 p.m. on CBS, drawing 13.58 million households and a Nielsen rating of 4.6/14 among viewers aged 18–49. It won its timeslot, competing against the first half-hour of *The X Factor*, as well as episodes of *Community*, *The Vampire Diaries*, and *Charlie’s Angels*. Only *The X Factor* had more than 5 million viewers in that slot, with 10.828 million. The episode was the most-watched show on