the Water Bomb

plot
To solve the severe drought problem on Mars, Professor Haggerty suggests sending a cargo of hydrogen and oxygen there and releasing them together into the atmosphere. Raeburn has the required quantities loaded onto Galasphere 347 and sends Dart and his crew to Mars to deliver them. Meanwhile, on Phobos, a group of escaped criminals, led by a man named Marog, are building a bomb with which they intend to destroy one of the cities on Mars if they are not given a free pardon from the president. Overhearing a radio conversation, they discover that Galasphere 347 has on board it a cargo of hydrogen, which they need to complete their weapon. They trick the Galasphere’s crew into landing, and hold them there to prevent Space Patrol from attacking Phobos. The bomb is completed and Marog gives the UGO its final warning. With hours to go before the launch, Dart devises an escape plan. Husky pretends to have fallen ill and Dart talks the guard at their cell into letting Slim back to the Galasphere to fetch a medical kit. When he returns, Dart gives Husky an injection which temporarily makes him appear dead. The guard dumps him outside, and when Husky recovers, he sabotages the bomb. He then frees Dart and Slim, and the three escape in the Galasphere. Space Patrol fire missiles at Phobos, but Marog is unable to reach his escape ship in time.

notes
The Martian moon Phobos is shown in this episode to be spherically shaped, although, in reality, it is asymetrical.

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