Ed's Fax from NASA's Byron Talmadge on Chinese Satellite

Freshly printed sheets crackle in Ed's grip, stark black ink blaring NASA's Byron Talmadge's alert: a colossal Chinese satellite spirals uncontrollably toward Earth, doomsday veiled in bureaucratic jargon. Ed and Larry thrust it at Donna amid bullpen frenzy; her face drains to ash—'A satellite is gonna crush into the Earth?'—pure terror seizing her before their howls rip the veil, confessing the prank meant for C.J. Pages whip through Josh's fingers as he bolts from Leo's office, chaos incarnate yanking focus from MS shadows.

3 appearances

Purpose

Delivers urgent NASA warning about a massive Chinese satellite crashing uncontrollably to Earth, intended for Press Secretary C.J. Cregg

Significance

Ignites Donna's visceral panic as prank fuel, shattering tension with howling farce amid the White House's MS cover-up spiral—mirroring uncontrollable catastrophe in absurd distraction that fractures staff focus and amps tonal whiplash.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

3 moments

S2E20 · The Fall's Gonna Kill You

Staff Press Leo for Covert MS Polling Amid Paranoia

Ed's prank fax from NASA's Byron Talmadge on the Chinese satellite is referenced by Donna OS, alerting Josh and foreshadowing tonal whiplash from political crisis to absurd external panic, yanking focus as he exits the polling huddle.

Before: Received at Press Office

After: Prompting Josh's attention in bullpen transition

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S2E20 · The Fall's Gonna Kill You

Donna's Bullpen Greeting Interrupted by Satellite Prank Panic

Freshly printed NASA fax from Byron Talmadge, detailing a huge Chinese satellite crashing uncontrollably to Earth, is presented by laughing Ed and Larry to Donna as a prank prop; it triggers her authentic terror, heightens comedic irony, and is redirected for C.J., symbolizing absurd interruptions amid real White House crises like the MS scandal.

Before: Newly received by Ed in bullpen

After: Handed to Donna with instructions to deliver to C.J.

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S2E20 · The Fall's Gonna Kill You

Donna's Frantic NASA Fax Interruption

Donna urgently references this prank fax from NASA's Byron Talmadge—detailing a Chinese satellite crash—as just received at Press Office, her off-screen alert propelling Josh from Leo's huddle to bullpen and lobby; it injects farcical chaos, diverting from mortal political stakes.

Before: Freshly arrived at Press Office via fax machine

After: In Donna's hands or awareness, triggering immediate summons

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