Volcanoes of Venus

plot
A mysterious virus is spreading on Venus, causing some of its inhabitants to become temporarily paralysed.  Raeburn suspects that Slim’s uncle Gallia is responsible and sends him to find out what his plan is.  Slim learns that Gallia intends to seize power over Venus and make it the most powerful planet in the Galaxy using a paralysing powder he has invented.  The powder has been placed in a volcano along with a large amount of explosives.  When the explosives are detonated, the air will be flooded with the powder and Cresta, the capital of Venus, will be paralysed.  Slim contacts Space Headquarters to inform Raeburn that he is resigning from Space Patrol and has chosen to serve Gallia.  Raeburn allocates another Venusian to the crew of Galasphere 347 and sends Dart to try to reason with Slim. On their way, they are asked to pick up an automated freighter, carrying plastifoam, which has drifted off course.  When he arrives, Slim tells Dart that he intends to destroy Gallia’s headquarters before he can detonate the explosives.  Dart realizes that the plastifoam on the freighter can be used to form a dome over Cresta.  He signals Slim to tell him that all is okay before spraying the plastifoam over the city.  The Venusian president awards Slim a medal for his bravery.

notes
By the year 2100, jet engines have largely been replaced by meeson power.
A sample of Venusian writing can be seen on the map of Cresta at Gallia’s headquarters.

credits
a National Interest Picture production
produced by Roberta Leigh and Arthur Provis
directed by Frank Goulding
created & written by Roberta Leigh
voices by Libby Morris, Dick Vosburgh, Ronnie Stevens, Murray Cash
puppetry by Martin & Heather Granger, Joan Garrick
electronics by F.C. Judd
space consultant: Colin Ronan
RCA sound recording
script assistant: Denise Kaye
cameraman: Arthur Provis
editor: Len Walter
art director: Roland Whiteside
models: Derek Freeborn
special effects & animation: Bill Palmer, Brian Stevens, Bert Walker