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Pathfinders in Space (Trilogy) was a set of ITV childrens' television series that ran from 1960-1 based on the exploration of the Moon, Mars and Venus. It was produced by Sydney Newman and written by Malcolm Hulke and Eric Paice. There was also a prequel series (starring Michael Craze) that has been lost. The series is considered one of the three central influences on Doctor Who, the others being Journey into Space [1] and and Quatermass.
Target Luna (Prequel)
According to "The Pathfinders in Space Series Guide" by Andrew Pixley, this serial followed the three children of Prof. Norman Wedgewood (David Markham), Geoffrey (Michael Craze), Valerie (Sylvia Davies) and Jimmy (Michael Hammond), after their arrival on the Buchan Island Rocket Research Station. When Flight-Lieutenant Williams (William Ingram) becomes ill just before the first mission to orbit the Moon is about to blast off, Jimmy, the youngest of the three children, sneaks into the rocket with his pet hamster, Hamlet. Once in orbit, Jimmy must face several challenges, including the frigid cold of outer-space, loss of communication with the ground crew, cosmic particles and re-entry. In the end, Jimmy survives and returns to Earth. These events are covered by a reporter named Henderson (Frank Finley), who would become one of the leading characters in subsequent serials. The events are recounted and briefly summarised in episode one of Pathfinders in Space.
All six episodes have been lost.
Pathfinders in Space
This serial, as well as its two sequels, have been released on DVD[2].
Pathfinders to Mars
Pathfinders to Venus
Actors appearing in Doctor Who and Pathfinders in Space
Crew members common to both shows