Fireball XL-5: Planet 46 (episode 1)

Review

This is the first show in the series. The standard opening shows the two main characters of Steve Zodiac and Venus, the ship (Fireball XL-5), and the launching procedure. Using the long rail launching system is an idea that was considered as a possibility for launching rockets until it was decided that vertical launching would work better.

The show is, of course, primitive by today's standards. You can see wires almost all the time, and the view of Earth from space is totally wrong. Still, it's a program with a charm all its own, especially for the time. The story of the first episode is pretty standard; aliens try to attack the Earth and blow it up.

This type of show also has to be viewed without dwelling on the numerous things that are illogical or missing. For example: Why did the aliens want to attack? Why use a missile that can be intercepted so easily? The idea of oxygen pills is something seen later in Robinson Crusoe on Mars. In that case they worked because the planet already has an atmosphere of sorts, but in deep space such things would definitely not work, especially when the person in space is not wearing any kind of a space suit.

The idea of a show like this is to just go along and enjoy the ride and not think about the show critically. If you do that it's a fun program and cute in its own way.

Synopsis

Two of the main figures are shown, Steve Zodiac and Venus.

The rear of the spaceship Fireball XL-5. It's a very good-looking model.

The front part of the ship.

A closeup view of the front of the ship.

The catapault-type engines ignite and start the ship on its movement down the launching rail.

The booster section drops off and the ship ignites its own engines.

The “Space City” operations room.

They've detected a missile with a “planetomic bomb” capable of destroying the earth.

The XL-5 is given the orders to destroy the missile.

Robert the Robot.

Venus, the “doctor of space medicine.”

Professor Matt Matic.

One of the XL-5's interceptor missiles. The interceptor explodes early and Steve Zodiac and his crew determine that the missile has its own crew.

The second missile uses a jamming system to penetrate the enemy ship's defenses and it blows the ship up. The XL-5 is told the source of the attacking missile was Planet 46, so they are going to investigate. The journey will take a few days.

The spaceship approaches the planet.

The front part of the spaceship detaches from the rest of the vehicle.

Steve and Venus go out on their “jetmobiles” to explore the planet.

They enter a cave and find a door inside the cave.

Aliens appear.

Steve and Venus are captured and the aliens ready another missile.

The aliens trick the rest of the XL-5 to land.

Zodiac uses a gun hidden in the jetmobile and takes care of the aliens (rendering them unconscious.)

Steve takes the alien leader captive, then docks “Fireball Junior” with the main body of the rocket to give them the power to pull the rocket out of the ash it had been sinking into.

Venus and the alien, along with Steve, have taken “oxygen pills” which allow them to survive in space.

Main index page

Fireball XL-5 main index page