the Grass of Saturn

plot
Simba has become the new ruler of Saturn.  He claims his brother, Riga, the planet’s former leader, to be dead.  General Smith, however, suspects that he has overthrown his brother.  Raeburn tells Simba that it is customary within the UGO that Space Patrol send a Galasphere to welcome the new leader of a planet.  He chooses the crew of Galasphere 347.  On Saturn, Simba plans to take over Earth.  He sends rockets containing Saturnian grass seed to the planet.  As Saturnian grass absorbs oxygen and emits carbon dioxide, all intelligent life there will be destroyed.  When the rockets arrive, they disperse the seed over Earth.  The inhabitants believe that this is just a dust storm and take little notice.  When Raeburn notices that everyone at Space Headquarters is becoming tired and drowsy, however, he goes to see Professor Haggerty.  Haggerty discovers that the air on Earth has an increasingly high level of carbon dioxide and Raeburn has all the grass on Earth destroyed using a specially formulated chemical.  On Saturn, Husky finds Riga imprisoned.  He releases him and they both hurry back to the Galasphere.  Dart follows and they take off just as Simba realizes what has happened.  He fires missiles at them, but the Galasphere’s forcefield is strong enough to stop them.  Trying to get through the rings, they meet a Saturnian spaceship which has been sent to follow them.  The ship’s crew is surprised to find Riga aboard, and agree to guide the Galasphere through the rings.  When he reaches Earth, Riga learns that Simba has been killed and that his Saturnian subjects are awaiting his return home.

notes
This is the third episode to feature the Saturnians.  They had previously appeared in the Miracle tree of Saturn and the Rings of Saturn.

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