Synopsis

The detonation of the TelSat 4 rocket damages an illegal pirate television satellite, KLA. On board, DJ Rick O'Shea and his engineer, Loman, realise that the satellite is heading for re-entry without breaking parachutes and when Loman attempts to repair the damage he is trapped in an airlock...

Characters

Jeff Tracy, Scott Tracy, Virgil Tracy, Power, DJ Tom, Alan Tracy, Gordon Tracy, Brains, Loman, Sentinel Base Computer, Tin-Tin Kyrano, Grandma Tracy, Rick O'Shea, Professor Mitchell, International Space Control

Credits

Directing

Director: Brian Burgess

Producing

Producer: Gerry Anderson
Associate Producer: Reg Hill

Writing

Writer: Tony Barwick

Voices

Voice: Peter Dyneley (Jeff Tracy), Shane Rimmer (Scott Tracy), Jeremy Wilkin (Virgil Tracy, Power, DJ Tom), Matt Zimmerman (Alan Tracy), David Graham (Gordon Tracy, Brains, Loman, Sentinel Base Computer), Christine Finn (Tin-Tin Kyrano, Grandma Tracy), Ray Barrett (Rick O'Shea), Sylvia Anderson (Professor Mitchell), Charles "Bud" Tingwell (International Space Control [uncredited])

Music

Music: Barry Gray

Crew

Cinematography: John Reed
Special Effects: Derek Meddings
Visual Effects: Sylvia Anderson

Production notes

Thunderbirds was the most expensive Supermarionation series up to that time. Although it had resemblances to the live-action CBS series Mission: Impossible, it actually premiered on British TV a year before Mission: Impossible was first seen in the U.S.

Gerry Anderson repeated the characters and plotlines for "Thunderbirds 2086," an animated series which ran on U.S. cable TV in 1984, then entered syndication a year later.