the Unknown Asteroid

plot
A freighter containing a large amount of UGO gold is stolen by a group of Space Pirates.  Meanwhile, the supply of plutonite, the metal used to make Galaspheres, is beginning to run out. Dart and his crew discover a new asteroid, and Husky takes a piece of the asteroid back to Space Headquarters, where Haggerty discovers that it is made of plutonite.  Before they can claim the asteroid, however, Miga, an extremely wealthy Venusian, claims it for himself.  He tells Raeburn that he will sell the asteroid to Space Patrol for ten million Venusian francs.  Raeburn sends Dart to Miga’s palace to make the transaction.  While he and Husky wait for Miga to return with some legal documents, Husky discovers some switches on one of the walls, each of which reveals a painting hidden behind panels in the walls.  The final switch, however, opens the door to a vault containing the gold that was stolen by the space pirates.  While Dart keeps Miga occupied, Husky leaves the palace to inform the Venusian president of their discovery.  With Miga arrested, Space Patrol is able to claim the asteroid.

notes
Space Patrol had been unable to apprehend the space pirates for two years until Dart and Husky discovered the gold in Miga’s palace.

credits
a National Interest Picture production
Wonderama Productions Ltd. © 1962
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, Ysanne Churchman
puppetry by Martin & Heather Granger, Joan Garrick
electronics by F.C. Judd
editor: John Beaton
recordist: Cyril Brown
RCA sound recording
cameraman: Arthur Provis
art director: Roland Whiteside
models: Derek Freeborn
script assistant: Denise Kaye
special effects & animation: Brian Stevens, Bert Walker
2nd unit cameraman: Jimmy Hopewell