Spaceship to the Unknown is a condensed version of the original serial, compressing the original twelve episodes into an efficient 97 minute feature for TV. Flash Gordon heads into space with brilliant scientist Dr. Zarkoff and his sweetheart Dale Arden in an effort to throw the planet Mongo off course; it is expected to crash into the Earth within a matter of days. However, once Flash and his crew arrive on Mongo, they have to deal with the supremely evil Ming the Merciless and his wicked minions.