Jake Madigan, an exobiologist, and engineer Florinda Pot (pronounced "Poe"), both based at Goddard Space Flight Center, are assigned the preparation/launch of a satellite containing an Orbiting Biological Observatory.
The assignment has various delays and failures, but eventually the satellite, containing experimental packages contributed by various research institutions, is delivered to Cape Kennedy and launched.
Moreover, it is communicating with other satellites (including Soviet spy birds, resulting in attempts to transmit Cyrillic words using the standard English alphabet coding) and increasing its abilities.
Jake and Florinda are opposed, until OBO sends a message telling the two that it considers them to be its parents, and expressing shame that they are in an "illikit" relationship.
Looking for a solution, they consult "Stretch", an IBM 2002 mainframe computer at Goddard, who directs them to find a safe place in a small, rural town.