Most Special Astronaut

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“Most Special Astronaut”
Joe 90 episode
Episode no. Season 1
Episode 2
Written by Tony Barwick
Directed by Peter Anderson
Production no. 13
Original airdate October 6, 1968
Episode chronology
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"The Most Special Agent" "Project 90"
List of Joe 90 episodes

"Most Special Astronaut" is the second episode of the Supermarionation television series Joe 90. It was the 13th episode to be produced. Its original UK air date was October 6, 1968 on ATV Midlands. It was written by Tony Barwick and directed by Peter Anderson.

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

Two astronauts are stranded on board a space station that will form the heart of WIN's new orbital radar system. Attempts to launch supplies to the men have been unsuccessful and the station is running dangerously low on air. Joe must assume the brain pattern of an injured astronaut to carry out a rescue mission…

[edit] Plot

The OCT space station is in orbit around the Earth. While the two astronauts, Brodie and Kent, go about their usual work, OCT Ground Control prepares to launch a manned supply rocket to the craft. Because the first attempt to reach the station three days ago was unsuccessful, the base commander, Dr Nagel, frequently orders his subordinate, Crawford, to check the status of the second rocket before it blasts off. However, a malfunction causes the spacecraft to veer wildly off course. The rocket nosedives towards a residential area and, in view of the fact that the escape circuit has failed, Ground Control is forced to destroy the craft with the astronaut still on board. Despite the self-destruct, debris from the explosion rains down on the Astronaut Headquarters, leaving four more men badly injured.

At WIN Headquarters London, Shane Weston informs Professor McClaine and Joe of the disaster and says that the OCT station now has only three days' air supply left. Because there are now no fit astronauts to fly the supply rocket, it is up to Joe to save Brodie and Kent. When Mac reminds Shane that the organisation is not a rescue service, Weston reveals that the OCT station is in fact very important: it will form the heart of WIN's new orbital radar system.

Sam hurries to OCT Ground Control and asks Dr Nagel to have the third rocket brought onto the launch pad. Nagel is puzzled by Sam's claim that WIN will provide an astronaut but his client rushes out of the control room before he has time to argue. Meanwhile, Mac and Joe visit the unconscious Charles Drayton – one of the injured astronauts – at Brentwell Hospital to record his brain pattern. Elsewhere, Shane phones a tailor, Dobson, to demand a custom-made space suit. The clothes maker is confused when he is given Joe's small measurements. Once Charles Drayton's brain pattern is transferred to Joe on the BIG RAT, Shane travels to OCT Ground Control with rocket blastoff scheduled for dawn the next day. Meanwhile, in the OCT space station, Brodie and Kent begin to feel drowsy as their air diminishes.

During the night, a fault is discovered in the supply rocket's onboard computer link and the countdown is paused while the problem is fixed. After a half-hour delay, Joe, kitted up in his space suit, arrives at Ground Control in a truck with Mac and Sam and passes through the front gate. Although the base personnel are baffled by the secrecy surrounding WIN's astronaut, Nagel commands Crawford not to spy on Joe as he ascends in the gantry lift to the rocket's command module.

At dawn, with the space station air supply now down to less than two hours, Joe finally launches in the rocket after rigorous checking of the spacecraft's systems. He leaves the atmosphere without incident, but OCT's air is virtually exhausted and Brodie and Kent have passed out due to the lack of oxygen. When the astronauts fail to respond to his request to open the space station's docking ring, Joe is commanded by Ground Control to abort the mission. However, he rejects the advice and is eventually able to join manually with the station. The supply module instantly replenishes OCT's flagging air supply and Brodie and Kent regain consciousness.

Later, Joe detaches the command module from the supply unit and prepares to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. However, in his struggle to dock with the space station, he has damaged his homing aerial, with the result that now he must pilot his way home completely by hand. Initially, Joe's angle of descent is incorrect, but the boy adjusts the slant before the craft burns up. Once through the clouds, Joe deploys the module's parachute and falls gently to the ground, mission accomplished.

The next day, at OCT Ground Control, a cheerful Dr Nagel wonders if he dreamt the entire mission. Joe enters the base control room with Mac and Sam introduces Nagel to the boy. Oblivious to the fact that he was the rocket astronaut, Nagel enquires if Joe would like to tour the base. Informing the doctor of Joe's age, Mac wittily recommends that he not make the visit too technical.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Regular voice cast

[edit] Guest voice cast

In speaking order:

[edit] External links