Sands of Death

plot
Raeburn is contacted by the Martian president, who tells him that Tyrig, leader of the opposition party on Mars, plans to seize control there using a powerful nerve gas.  To demonstrate, he releases some of the gas over Wotan, the Martian capital.  Raeburn sends the Galasphere 347 crew to Tyrig’s hideaway on Phobos to apprehend him.  However, they are captured and ordered to explain the workings of the Galasphere.  They refuse to do so and are imprisoned.  Slowly, their cell begins to fill with sand.  With only twenty-four hours to go before Tyrig spreads the Nerve gas over the whole of Mars, Raeburn sends United Galactic Army troops to Phobos to try to stop him.  Tyrig learns of the UGO’s plans, and releases some of the gas over Phobos.  Dart, meanwhile, realizes that, for some unknown reason, he decided to wear Professor Haggerty’s time watch when he left the Galasphere.  Slim has managed to free himself from under the sand and has started to dig their way out of the cell.  As this will take too much time at normal speed, he puts the watch on and is able to finish the job in three minutes.  Dart then takes the watch, and is able to stop Tyrig from putting his plans into action.

notes
Professor Haggerty’s time watch, previously seen in Time Stands Still, is put to use again in this episode.

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: Len Walter
sound editor: John Beaton
recordist: Cyril Brown
RCA sound recording
processed at Kay’s
cameraman: Arthur Provis
art director: Roland Whiteside
models: Derek Freeborn
script assistant: Denise Kaye
space consultant: Colin Ronan
special effects & animation: Brian Stevens, Bert Walker
2nd unit cameraman: Jimmy Hopewell