Now, let's say MR happened either before when it did or after (81, 83 or 85). Could we have gotten away with the same plot but without Bond going into space?
Part of me thinks there is a way of Bond getting the job done, finding out Drax's plot. Perhaps out of character for Moore's Bond, surely he could blow stuff up on the ground thus cutting off links to the station?
Or is the plot so outlandish the only way is up?