The Mighty Atom
Once again, The Hood emerges as the world's most dangerous terrorist, seeking plans for an atomic irrigation station in Australia, with a little baiting of International Rescue on the side. A mercenary by trade, he often engages in such schemes to sell his ill-gotten information to the highest bidder.
The modern fears of a "nuclear winter" and the hazard of migrational radioactive clouds are briefly but eloquently addressed in this episode.
The title of this episode might confuse viewers in Japan, since in that country the ever-popular character "Astro Boy" is known as "The Mighty Atom."
Though Lady Penelope and Parker have not been seen since IR's first rescue call---the Fireflash incident---they have taken part in numerous rescue attempts involving espionage unseen by viewers.
By 1966, Lady Penelope had become so popular that she starred in her own magazine; it included a column called "Lady Penelope Investigates" in which she interviewed celebrities.
Kyrano is responsible for the beautiful flower gardens on the grounds around Tracy Villa. Taking his cue from his father's loyal friend, John has also become an avid horticulturist.
This episode includes one of the few times John is seen as pilot aboard Thunderbird 3; this again happens in "Danger At Ocean Deep," his only rescue outing shown to viewers.
Taking his name from astronaut Alan Shepherd, Alan Tracy is one of the world's youngest galactic travelers with many outer space visits to his credit.
As with a few other scripts, viewers are made aware of a large passage of time---nearly 12 months---within the events of the story.
Much of the action in "The Mighty Atom" takes place in Australia, as with "Cry Wolf" and "Atlantic Inferno." Australia was the home of many of the series' voice actors.
The second irrigation plant is situated in a desert area of Africa; the Thunderbirds will return to the area in the movie "Thunderbird 6."
Thunderbird 4, IR's sea-going rescue vehicle, is well-armed in case of attack. It is equipped with front-loaded missle-firing cannons, a laser beam cutting apparatus and ramming arms with interchangeable features.
Though Thunderbird 4 is normally transported to the danger zone via Pod 4 aboard Thunderbird 2, it can also travel short distances on land via hover jets placed on its bottom.
Aquanaut Gordon Tracy was previously a cadet with the World Aquanaut Security Patrol (or WASP), made famous in the series "Stingray."
Should Thunderbird 2 be out of commission, Thunderbird 4 can leave Tracy Island via a bay hidden within a cave at the back of Tracy Island.
Some of the same military aircraft are seen here that were first used in "Pit Of Peril."
Reckless and a bit silly, Gordon Tracy luckily escaped death in a serious crash of his speed boat just prior to the launch of International Rescue.
Several regular "Thunderbirds company players" appear as members of the press and the military in this episode.
Thunderbird 5 can pick up any broadcasted radio signal within 100 million miles.
Gordon Tracy was named for ace pilot and astronaut Leroy Gordon Cooper.
Oops: Even though the clockwork mouse dubbed The Mighty Atom is programmed to photograph the profile of the human face and surrounding objects, it takes full facial shots of Lady Penelope aboard Thunderbird 2, and, at times, shoots pictures of equipment without any human presence.
Often the jokester, Gordon Tracy enjoys pulling pranks and practical jokes on his brothers and anyone visiting Tracy Island whenever he gets the chance.
Gordon makes his first underwater rescue aboard Thunderbird 4 in this episode, while Lady Penelope rides along on her only mission with the men of International Rescue.
Though Thunderbird 1 has an often-heard-of automatic camera detector, it doesn't appear that Thunderbird 2 was ever fitted with one. This is evident both in this episode and again in "Desperate Intruder."
The stammering genius, Brains, was born in Michigan but raised in England after being orphaned as a young boy.
Brains' true identity remains a closely guarded secret; he is never referred to by his real name during the series.
Because Lady Penelope's hands obscure her face in the photographs which The Hood acquires, her secret is safe and her identity protected.