A Drax Industries Moonraker (a spaceplane based on the NASA Space Shuttle orbiter) is on loan to the United Kingdom when it is hijacked midair. The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is destroyed, but no wreckage of the Moonraker is found, prompting MI6 to send 007 to investigate.

En route to England, Bond is attacked and pushed out of an airplane by the mercenary assassin Jaws (whom he previously met in The Spy Who Loved Me). In order to survive, Bond dives after the pilot, battling him mid-air and stealing his parachute.

After unsuccessfully trying to wrestle Bond's parachute away from him, Jaws breaks his own parachute and lands on a circus tent, which cushions his fall.

007 is issued a wrist gun that shoots armour-piercing or envenomed darts.

CORINNE: The Drax residence. Every stone brought from France. Cute, isn't it?
BOND: Magnificent. Why didn't he buy the Eiffel Tower as well?
CORINNE: He did, but the French government refused him an export permit.

A French herding breed known for centuries in western Europe, the Beauceron is noted as one of the breeds used to create the Doberman Pinscher.

DRAX: Your loyalty commands respect, Mr. Bond. You have arrived at a propitious moment, coincident with your country's one contribution to Western civilization. Afternoon tea. May I press you to a cucumber sandwich?
BOND: Thank you, no. Nothing at all.

At Drax's research facility Bond meets Dr. Goodhead who sets him up in a centrifuge chamber, although one of Drax's men tries to kill him by making it spin too fast.

When Bond comes to Corinne's room, she tells him that her mother gave her a list of things not to do on a first date, but this doesn't stop her from sleeping with Bond or letting him copy blueprints from Drax's personal safe. Afterwards, 007 reminds her of the list, but she quips that she never learned to read.

DRAX: Such good sport.
BOND: Unless you're a pheasant.