Fireball XL5

1 9 6 2 - 1 9 6 3 (UK)
39 x 30 minute episodes

Fireball XL5 is one of a fleet of 'XL' vehicles of the World Space Patrol, a space agency of the 21st Century in a world where man has explored space extensively and made contact with alien civilizations. Set around 2067, the series of 39 episodes was more advanced than Gerry Anderson stable mate Supercar. There was still the occasional juvenile style episode (EG 1875 where the XL5 crew are sent back in time to the Wild West where Steve Zodiac becomes a sheriff and Venus becomes an outlaw) but generally the stories were exciting and relatively mature.

Fireball XL5 was a long, sleek spacecraft, with one main nozzle engine at the back. Two smaller rockets were fitted to each of the wing fins. Running almost the entire length of the spacecraft is a tail fin. Seven windows run along each side of the fuselage, stopping just at the beginning of the tail fin.

On top of Fireball XL5 is a glass observation dome. Fireball XL5 is split into two parts, the main section as described above and then a smaller section which is the control cabin and is called Fireball Junior. It has large windows at the front, which run along part of the side, giving a wide area of view, and four fins which run nearly the entire length of it, which enable it to fly to any planets with an atmosphere.

Apart from being the control cabin, Fireball Junior acts as a landing vehicle. It detaches from the main body of Fireball XL5 and lands on planets (using rockets and landing legs), while the main part of the spacecraft remains in orbit. There are two large doors either side of Fireball Junior providing access. Fireball XL5 is a fully-equipped spacecraft.

The control cabin, Fireball Junior, has two pilot seats - one for Steve Zodiac and the other one for Robert the Robot. Control of the spacecraft is by control columns, one to each pilot, rather like handlebars. The front of the control cabin is a metal framework, covered in glass (in the puppet set of the cabin there is obviously no glass - you can see the strings!). A hatch at the rear of the control cabin leads to the back of Fireball Junior, and the two doors, and to the main body of Fireball XL5.

The main body of Fireball XL5 has a navigation bay, where Matt Matic plots courses. His equipment includes a radarscope, like conventional earth radar, and an Astroscope, which provides the spacecraft with pictures of the area they are searching. Professor Mathew Matic also has a Spacemascope, which again gives pictures of the area. One other device used by both the crew of Fireball XL5 and other craft is the neutronic transmitting system, a sort of radio system for use in space.

Aside from the navigation bay, Fireball XL5 also has a lounge, accommodation for the crew, a laboratory for Venus, a Space Gyro Room, and a Space Jail. There are four other important pieces of equipment. First there are the ray guns with capsules of energy. Second are the thrust packs, which strap to the crew's backs, and which enable them to manoeuvre in space.

Third are their jetmobiles (pictured at right). These are like motorcycles, but are used in space and on land. They hover on jets (hence the name). Finally, there are the oxygen pills. These enable the crew to go into space without oxygen and  without the need for space suits.

Fireball XL5 is launched from the launch rail at Space City by rocket boosters attached to the launch platform. The spacecraft is positioned onto the rocket boosters on takeoff. 

The boosters and the main engine of Fireball XL5 are fired, sending the boosters down the launch rail, with the craft attached. Just before the end of the rail, having picked up enough speed, Fireball XL5 separates from the rocket boosters and takes off. On return to Space City, Fireball XL5 uses retro-rockets to land vertically, landing on a pad where crane cradles pick it up and move it back onto the launch ramp, ready for takeoff again.

Fireball XL5 established a style which Gerry Anderson refined and improved in each series. The next step was to move into a wider market, and that meant the United States - and colour (with Stingray).

EPISODES

Planet 46  Hypnotic Sphere  Planet of Plutonia  Space Magnet  The Doomed Planet   Plant Man from Space  The Sun Temple  Space Immigrants  Space Monster  Flying Zodiac  XL5 to H2O A Spy in Space Space Pirates

Convict in Space  Space Pen  The Last of the Zanadu's  The Wings of Danger  The Triads  Sabotage  Prisoner on the Lost Planet  Flight to Danger  Space Vacation  Mystery of the TA2  Robert to the Rescue  The Forbidden Planet  The Granatoid Tanks

Dangerous Cargo 1875  The Robot Fighter Mystery  Drama at Space City  Whistle for Danger  Faster than Light  The Day The Earth Froze  Invasion Earth  The Ghosts of Space  Trial by Robot  A Day in the life of a Space General Space City Special  The Firefighters