Pathfinders In Space (1960)
Pathfinders In Space was a British television serial broadcast by ABC Weekend TV in September 1960. It was a sequel/re-imagining of Target Luna (1960). Malcolm Hulke and Eric Paice continued writing the story that followed Professor Norman Wedgwood and his children, and their exploits in space.
| Production company/ies | Broadcast station(s) | Broadcast date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| ABC | ABC Weekend TV, Anglia, ATV London, Southern, STV, TWW, Tyne Tees, UTV | September 11 - October 23, 1960 |
Production credits
| Producer(s) | Director(s) | Writer(s) | Other notable credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Newman | Guy Verney | Malcolm Hulke Eric Paice | Design: Tom Spaulding Programme advisor: Mary Field |
Synopsis
| Professor Norman Wedgwood and his team are planning another rocket mission to the Moon. Once again, Geoff, Valerie and Jimmy are on hand to witness the launch of a new rocket MR1, along with journalist friend Conway Henderson. However, when the automatic supply ship MR2 fails to launch Henderson and the children make a desperate rescue attempt with Jimmy's pet Hamlet. |  |
Cast
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Episodes
- Convoy To The Moon
- A mission to the Moon is put in peril when one of the rockets develops a malfunction in its guidance system shortly after take off. A second rocket launches in a desperate effort to save the crew. [Watch on YouTube]
- Spaceship From Nowhere
- Despite communication issues one of the rockets successfully lands on the Moon. Confusion turns to fear when the second rocket picks up the return of a third, unknown rocket, in orbit around the Moon. [Watch on YouTube]
- Luna Bridgehead
- The two spacecraft are now on the Moon and they need to work together to establish contact with each other. As exploration begins it quickly becomes apparent that someone or something has been on the Moon before them. [Watch on YouTube]
- The Man In The Moon
- Jimmy falls down a shaft into an underground cavern, where the team finds another spaceship similar to the one in orbit around the moon. Meanwhile, the MR-1 crew arrives at the MR-2 ship, but the MR-2 crew is not there - will they be found before their air runs out? Also, Valerie makes a shocking discovery. [Watch on YouTube]
- The World Of Lost Toys
- The crew finds evidence of a civilization that visited the moon 400 million years ago, including toys and a book left behind by children. Will these discoveries help them get inside the spaceship in the cavern? Meanwhile, a meteor shower threatens MR-1 and MR-2. [Watch on YouTube]
- Disaster On The Moon
- The crew finds a video recording in the alien spaceship, which tells them of the sad fate of the civilization that visited the moon 400 million years ago, and gives a surprising clue to their identity. Meanwhile, a meteor shower destroys the MR-1 mothership. Can they use MR-2, not designed for a return voyage, to get back to Earth? [Watch on YouTube]
- Rescue In Space
- The MR-2 supply ship leaves for Earth, with only one adult and one child aboard--that is all it can carry. The rest of the crew stays behind in the cavern, learning as much as they can about the ancient visitors before the air runs out. But does the ancient spaceship left behind by the visitors still work? [Watch on YouTube]
Notes
Sydney Newman wanted to develop a children's adventure serial, which could educate its audience about science and the developing Space Race. Professor Wedgwood and his experimental rocket group appears to be a direct reference to the character and success of Professor Bernard Quatermass on the BBC. Target Luna proved successful enough for Newman to commission a sequel series.
Characters that first appeared in the original series were recast. Hamlet the hamster became a guinea pig. Despite the mass recast, many references were alluded of the previous serial, making this serial and the follow-ups canonical. The series continued to be successful, spawning two further serials, Pathfinders To Mars and Pathfinders To Venus.
