| Genre | Science fiction |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Home station | BBC Light Programme |
| Syndicates | BBC Radio 4 Extra |
| Starring | |
| Created by | B. D. Chapman |
| Written by | B. D. Chapman |
| Produced by | Charles Maxwell |
| Original release | 28 September (1959-09-28) – 28 December 1959 (1959-12-28) |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 14 |
| Audio format | Monaural |
| Website | www |
Orbiter X: An adventure in the conquest of space is a BBC Radio science fiction programme written by B. D. Chapman. Only a single series was produced which was broadcast on the BBC Light Programme on Monday evenings in late 1959. Presumed to have been wiped and lost, a set of discs of the entire series, recorded for the BBC Transcription Service, was discovered and restored.1 Since 2016, Orbiter X has occasionally been repeated on the BBC's archive station, BBC Radio 4 Extra.
Plot
The fictional Commonwealth Space Project (CSP),2 based in Woomera, South Australia, is working to build a space station orbiting a thousand miles above the Earth's surface:2 Orbiter X. Planned to be a refuelling station for further space exploration, along with laboratories and other services,2 the CSP has launched the various components for the space station into orbit. But before construction can begin, the first assembly ship, Orbiter 1, is seemingly attacked and loses contact with CSP Control. A second ship, Orbiter 2, piloted by Captain Bob Britton (John Carson), sent to rescue the first crew finds Orbiter 1 deserted and the spacecraft's log missing. Orbiter 2 is also attacked by a UFO and Flight Engineer 'Hicky' (Barrie Gosney) seriously injured. With their spacecraft crippled, the crew have no alternative but to abandon ship and place themselves at the mercy of their attackers. Once aboard the UFO, they meet Commander Gelbin (Arthur Lawrence), the deputy leader of the Unity organisation: a group of technocrats who plan to use Orbiter X themselves and create a New World Order.
Background
Writing in the Radio Times, the programme's creator said:2
With the arrival of the Russian moon probe in the lunar Sea of Serenity a fortnight ago, scientific fact and fiction have become curiously interwoven. The time cannot be far distant when man himself will be setting foot on the moon, but such an undertaking still poses major problems, not least of which is the question of fuel for the return trip.
At the present time, a rocket consumes the bulk of its fuel during its breakaway from the earth. To make the return trip possible, a refuelling point or terminal will be required beyond the limits of the atmosphere. This dual purpose could be served by a space station which would also be equipped with facilities such as a space laboratory, workshops, an observatory and, of course, living accommodation for the crew.
I believe that we shall see such a station taking shape within the course of the next ten years or so, and it is this possibility which has given me the background of the new serial.
For myself, I am hoping that the serial will not be outdated by the News before it starts!
— B.D. Chapman, Into Orbit with the Space Pioneers, Radio Times, 25 September 19592
Production details
The producer of Orbiter X, Charles Maxwell, aimed to make the series authentic as possible.2 During the studio recordings, the cast wore 'space helmets' to help them to achieve a sense of realism.2 Harry Morriss and Ian Cook created around 40 different sound effects for the series, with "as many as four or five effects sometimes being blended together to produce one particular sound".2
Cast
The complete cast, as listed in the Radio Times, was:345678
| Part | Played by |
|---|---|
| Captain Bob Britton | John Carson |
| Captain Douglas McClelland | Andrew Crawford |
| Flight Engineer Hicks | Barrie Gosney |
| Colonel Kent | Donald Bisset |
| Captain Jack Bradley | John Witty |
| Control Officer Brown | Peter Noel Cook |
| Control Officer Camm | Francis Hall |
| U F O Commander Gelbin | Arthur Lawrence |
| Radio Operator | John Matthews |
| Max Kramer | Gerik Schjelderup |
| Greta Ravel | Irene Prador |
| Sir Charles Day | Leslie Perrins |
| Neasen | Ian Sadler |
| Letmann | John Cazabon |
| Captain Knight | John Graham |
Episode list
| No. | First broadcast | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 Sep 19593 | The First Step to the Stars9 |
| 2 | 5 Oct 19594 | Conflict in Space9 |
| 3 | 12 Oct 19595 | The Master Plan9 |
| 4 | 19 Oct 19596 | Flight to the Moon9 |
| 5 | 26 Oct 195910 | Inside the Moon Station9 |
| 6 | 2 Nov 19597 | Breakaway9 |
| 7 | 9 Nov 195911 | Price of Survival9 |
| 8 | 16 Nov 195912 | Marooned in Space9 |
| 9 | 23 Nov 19598 | Operation Salvage9 |
| 10 | 30 Nov 195913 | Return to Woomera9 |
| 11 | 7 Dec 195914 | A Flight Against Time9 |
| 12 | 14 Dec 195915 | Building the Space Station9 |
| 13 | 21 Dec 195916 | The Net Closes9 |
| 14 | 28 Dec 195917 | The Final Round9 |
References
References
- "Orbiter X". Tim Worthington's Newsround. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- Chapman, B. D. (25 September 1959). "Into Orbit with the Space Pioneers". Radio Times. Vol. 144, no. 1872 (London ed.). BBC Publications. p. 7. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- "Orbiter X". Radio Times. Vol. 144, no. 1872 (London ed.). BBC Publications. 25 September 1959. p. 35. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- "Orbiter X". Radio Times. Vol. 145, no. 1873 (London ed.). BBC Publications. 2 October 1959. p. 35. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- "Orbiter X". Radio Times. Vol. 145, no. 1874 (London ed.). BBC Publications. 9 October 1959. p. 24. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- "Orbiter X". Radio Times. Vol. 145, no. 1875 (London ed.). BBC Publications. 16 October 1959. p. 33. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- "Orbiter X". Radio Times. Vol. 145, no. 1877 (London ed.). BBC Publications. 30 October 1959. p. 31. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- "Orbiter X". Radio Times. Vol. 145, no. 1880 (London ed.). BBC Publications. 20 November 1959. p. 33. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- "Orbiter X: Episodes". BBC Radio 4 Extra. BBC. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- "Orbiter X". Radio Times. Vol. 145, no. 1876 (London ed.). BBC Publications. 23 October 1959. p. 33. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- "Orbiter X". Radio Times. Vol. 145, no. 1878 (London ed.). BBC Publications. 6 November 1959. p. 31. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- "Orbiter X". Radio Times. Vol. 145, no. 1879 (London ed.). BBC Publications. 13 November 1959. p. 31. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- "Orbiter X". Radio Times. Vol. 145, no. 1881 (London ed.). BBC Publications. 27 November 1959. p. 35. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- "Orbiter X". Radio Times. Vol. 145, no. 1882 (London ed.). BBC Publications. 4 December 1959. p. 31. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- "Orbiter X". Radio Times. Vol. 145, no. 1883 (London ed.). BBC Publications. 11 December 1959. p. 27. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- "Orbiter X". Radio Times. Vol. 145, no. 1884 (London ed.). BBC Publications. 18 December 1959. p. 31. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- "Orbiter X". Radio Times. Vol. 145, no. 1885 (London ed.). BBC Publications. 25 December 1959. p. 31. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2020.