 The Seaview is an atomic submarine designed by Admiral Harriman Nelson. On it s intial launch some politicians are visiting it to see if all the money they poured into it is worth it. It is while they are at sea that they learn that the belt of radiation covering the Earth is on fire. Nelson is asked to attend some kind of international conference to determine what to do. It is while on route that Nelson comes up with a plan, which he presents at the conference. Nelson proposes that if an atomic missile launch from the Seaview at a precise moment will cause it to blow up but a scientist who claims that the belt will burn itself out when it reaches a certain temperature. But Nelson says that if they wait for his proposal, they will miss the window of opportunity that he told them of. Nelson leaves boards the Seaview and heads off to make his rendezvous with radiation belt. However, Nelson driven manner, causes friction between him and Captain Crane, whose relationship with is more paternal. And as they push on, some of the crew members don t want to follow the admiral, and if that wasn t enough, there appears to be saboteur onboard.