1977, America launched one of its last deep space probes. Aboard this compact starship, a lone astronaut Major Vance Astrovik was to experience cosmic forces beyond all comprehension. In a freak mishap his life support systems were frozen by temperatures beyond imagination. Ranger 3 was blown out of its planned trajectory into an orbit 1000 times more vast. An orbit which was to return Vance Astrovik to Earth 500 years later.
No way, hold the phone, that's not at all right; but it sounded great and the media ran with it.
In reality, Vance Astrovik was indeed an astronaut and was launched into space on a deep space probe back in the late 70s. However, it was a test flight and he was to return to Earth a few days later. Instead, the probe was lost on the dark side of the moon and Major Vance Astrovik was never heard from again?
Well of course, until now. Two weeks ago Major Astrovik has returned to Earth. The media got wind of this development when Astrovik presented himself to NASA for debrief. Within a few days, the story was leaked to the media that Astrovik's probe slipped into an unseen wormhole and he found himself on the other side of the galaxy where he met an interacted with various alien species. It is said that he joined an organization called the Guardians of the Galaxy and after many years of adventures he has returned to Earth, his home.
Astrovik's photos have shown up in the media and he presents as a early 30s male (not a man in his 60s). Perhaps the cryogenic sleep did wonders for his skin.
PS: I could have totally gone with the intro for Farscape instead of Buck Rogers.