Fireball XL5 - wikipedia Fireball XL5 This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2013 ) Fireball XL5 Genre Action Adventure Children 's Science fiction Created by Gerry Anderson Sylvia Anderson Written by Gerry Anderson Sylvia Anderson Alan Fennell Anthony Marriott Dennis Spooner Directed by Gerry Anderson David Elliott Bill Harris John Kelly Alan Pattillo Voices of David Graham Sylvia Anderson Paul Maxwell John Bluthal Gerry Anderson Theme music composer Barry Gray Charles Blackwell ( lyrics ) Don Spencer ( vocals ) Composer ( s ) Barry Gray Country of origin United Kingdom Original language ( s ) English No. of series No. of episodes 39 ( list of episodes ) Production Producer ( s ) Gerry Anderson Cinematography John Read Ian Struthers Editor ( s ) Gordon Davie Eric Pask Camera setup Single Running time 25 mins approx. Production company ( s ) AP Films Distributor ITC Entertainment Release Original network ATV Picture format Black and white Film ( 35 mm ) Audio format Mono Original release 28 October 1962 ( 1962 - 10 - 28 ) -- 27 October 1963 ( 1963 - 10 - 27 ) Chronology Preceded by Supercar Followed by Stingray Fireball XL5 is a science fiction themed children 's television show following the missions of spaceship Fireball XL5, commanded by Colonel Steve Zodiac of the World Space Patrol. The show aired for a single 1962 -- 63 series, produced by husband and wife team Gerry and Sylvia Anderson through their company APF, in association with ATV for ITC Entertainment, and first transmitted on ATV on Sunday 28 October 1962. While developing his new show, Anderson thought a brand of motor oil -- Castrol XL -- had an interesting sound. A phonetic change created the name `` Fireball XL '', with the `` 5 '' added since the title seemed rather flat without the numeral. The show featured the Andersons ' Supermarionation, a form of puppetry first introduced in Four Feather Falls ( 1960 ) and Supercar ( 1961 ) and used again in their subsequent productions such as Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90 and The Secret Service. Thirty - nine black and white half - hour episodes of Fireball XL5 were made on 35mm film : all subsequent Anderson series were produced in colour. Several Anderson series have been shown in syndication in the US, but Fireball XL5 is the only Anderson series to have run on a US network. NBC ran the series in its Saturday morning children 's block from 1963 through September 1965. A similar programme often confused with Fireball XL5 due to a number of similarities and settings is Space Patrol ( known as Planet Patrol in the U.S. ), produced by Gerry Anderson 's former business partner and co-founder of AP Films, Arthur Provis. The complete series is available on DVD in the UK, Australia, Canada and the US. Contents 1 Setting 2 Fireball XL5 space ship 3 Character voices 4 Theme song and merchandising 5 Home video releases 6 Cast of characters 6.1 Main 6.1. 1 Fireball XL5 Crew 6.1. 2 Space City Personnel 6.2 Recurring 6.2. 1 Recurring Villains 7 Planets 8 Episodes 9 Translations 10 See also 11 References 12 External links Setting Set between the years 2062 and 2063, the series featured the missions of spaceship Fireball XL5, commanded by Colonel Steve Zodiac of the World Space Patrol. The crew included glamorous Doctor Venus, a doctor of space medicine ; middle - aged navigator and engineer Professor Matthew Matic and co-pilot Robert, a transparent, anthropomorphic robot who would most often proclaim ON - OUR - WAY - HOME. Robert was the only character in an Anderson series which was actually voiced by Anderson, albeit with the aid of an artificial larynx. As Anderson describes in a deleted scene of Filmed in Supermarionation : Then, it was very, very difficult, if not impossible to produce the sort of robot voice which would have to be monotone. So we found out that in Edinburgh University, they were creating the human voice artificially. They gave us a vibrator -- of course, of course, everybody smiled at -- not that kind of vibrator. And it was a vibrator that people who had their larynx removed through cancer would be able to put the vibrator under their chin, and it made a constant buzz. ( Makes buzzing noise. ) And then, of course, that sound was transmitted to the air inside the mouth. And I was then able to modulate that by mouthing the words. So, let 's get this straight, fellas. It was not my voice. It was the sound of the vibrator which I modulated, and that it why, erm... Robert always used to say : `` ( Doing an impression of Robert. ) On our way ' ome. ''. In the series, the World Space Patrol is based at Space City, located on an unnamed island in the South Pacific, headed by Commander Zero. Zero is assisted by Lieutenant Ninety. For unspecified reasons, the 25 - storey, T - shaped Space City control tower rotates. In one episode a character inadvertently makes it rotate fast enough for those inside to suffer vertigo. Fireball XL5 patrolled Sector 25 of charted interstellar space ( although there only appeared to be three sectors marked on the space chart seen in the Space City control room ). The patrols were missions of three months ' duration, and the ship was on call at base between missions. Fireball XL5 Space ship The patrol space ship Fireball XL5 takes off utilising a mile - long launch rail culminating in a 40 - degree incline, or sky ramp, which, as Anderson claimed, was inspired by an old Soviet design, a concept also used in the film When Worlds Collide. The World Space Patrol operates a fleet of at least 30 ' Fireball XL ' ships ( an XL30 is referred to in the episode The Firefighters ), of which XL5 is the most famous. The ship is composed of two detachable sections. A winged nose cone, the Fireball Junior, contains the cockpit and separates from the main body to land on other worlds. The remainder of the ship contains a navigation bay, laboratory, lounge, workshops and separate crew quarters, together with fuel and the main rocket motors for interstellar travel. The main ship generally remains stationed in orbit after arriving at an alien planet. When Fireball XL5 returns to its base on Earth, Space City, the whole ship lands horizontally, without separating, using underside - mounted retro - rockets. Although the series uses many classic, early 20th - century science fiction themes reminiscent of the space opera of E.E. `` Doc '' Smith, it was a children 's show and not intended to be realistic. Fireball XL5 is portrayed travelling around the galaxy at sub-light speeds ( until the episode Faster than Light ), and the series observed few of the limitations of known science and rocketry. Viewers were informed that the ship 's rocket motors were powered by a ' nutomic reactor ' and that XL5 could travel safely at speeds up to ' Space Velocity 7 ', enabling it to reach the outlying star systems of charted space within a few months. The crew never wore space suits : instead they took `` oxygen pills '' to survive in the vacuum of space, where they manoeuvred in zero gravity with the aid of thruster packs. ' Neutroni radio ' enabled virtually instantaneous communication within the sectors of charted space, and XL5 and her sister ships were fitted with ' gravity activators ' that generated artificial gravity fields within them. Character voices Regular characters were voiced by Paul Maxwell, Sylvia Anderson, David Graham and John Bluthal. In common with many of the Anderson puppet shows, most of the important characters have American accents, with some notable exceptions : Dr. Venus is French, Jock the engineer is Scottish and some of the aliens have remarkably sedate British accents ( e.g. episode 33, the Day the Earth Froze ). Language issues between alien races and Earth were rarely encountered as most races appeared to speak perfect English. Theme song and merchandising Fireball XL5 had separate opening instrumental theme music and a closing theme song. The closing theme, Fireball, written by Barry Gray and sung by Don Spencer, became a minor hit in Britain. Gray would have a long relationship with the Andersons ' productions, writing themes for such series as Thunderbirds and Space : 1999. Don Spencer would become Australia 's premier children 's entertainer and founder of the Australian Children 's Music Foundation. A group, The Flee - Rekkers, produced by Joe Meek, came out with an instrumental version in the style of Telstar. In addition to the theme song, the series spawned a number of other licensed merchandising spin - offs including toys, an MPC playset with rocket ship and figures, model kits including a plastic kit of Fireball XL5 itself, puppets, ray guns, comic strips and annuals. In Britain, a two - page black - and - white Fireball XL5 comic strip appeared in the weekly TV Comic between 1962 and 1964 before moving to the newly launched weekly TV Century 21 comic in January 1965 for another five years. The strips that appeared between 1965 and 1968 were in colour only reverting to black - and - white in 1969. Four hard cover Annual books were published in Britain by Collins between 1963 and 1966 featuring colour and black and white comic strip and text stories, while in the United States Gold Key Comics printed a single - issue colour comic book in 1963. Little Golden Books published a hard - cover colour illustrated story book in 1964 ( later released as ' Fireball XL5 -- A Big Television Book ' in Britain ). During the mid 1960s there were also three soft cover colouring / puzzle books published in Britain and one soft cover colouring / story book published in the United States. Home Video releases Like most of Anderson 's Supermarionation series, this one was given a `` complete series '' release in Region 1 by A&E Home Video. A Region 2 version featuring new bonus material was released on DVD in those territories in 2009, superseding a 2004 release with no extras. On 22 October in Region B territories, an individual Blu - ray featuring a colorised version of the episode A Day in the Life of a Space General was released. The disc also includes an episode of Four Feather Falls and an extended version of the Wonderland of Stardust documentary released as a bonus on the Region B box set released earlier in 2009. ( 1 ) The series was reissued in North America in a slim DVD set ( only about the size of a single DVD case ), but aside from a bonus PDF file of a publicity brochure for the show, and different menu design, the set is identical to its predecessor. Cast of characters Main Fireball XL5 crew Colonel Steve Zodiac : - The Pilot and commanding officer of Fireball XL5 ( voiced by Paul Maxwell ). Zodiac was awarded Astronaut of the Year in the episode `` Space City Special ''. Doctor Venus : - A Doctor of Space Medicine, of French origin. Personally chosen to be part of his crew by Steve Zodiac and with 5 years of service on the XL5 according to the episode `` The Last of the Zanadus '' ( voiced by Sylvia Anderson ). Professor Matthew `` Matt '' Matic : An engineer, navigator and scientist of XL5 ( voiced by David Graham, speaking in a voice similar to the actor Walter Brennan ). Robert the Robot - The Co-Pilot of XL5, a transparent robot invented by Professor Matic and Earth 's most advanced mechanical man ( voiced by an uncredited Gerry Anderson using an artificial larynx and the only main character Gerry Anderson ever voiced in one of his series ). Zoonie the Lazoon : - A lazy, semi-telepathic pet of Dr. Venus from planet Colevio ( voiced by David Graham ). During his first appearances, he could n't say anything but `` welcome home ''. His vocabulary grew as the series progressed, often due to him mimicking other characters. Space City personnel Commander Wilbur Zero : - The Operational Commander - in - Chief of the World Space Patrol and Space City 's Chief Controller ( voiced by John Bluthal ). Despite his gruff exterior, he cares deeply for his subordinates and respects them, especially Steve. Lieutenant Ninety : The assistant Space City Controller ( voiced by David Graham ). Ninety is young, inexperienced and the character most often on the receiving end of Commander Zero 's scathing attitude. Despite the seeming high tension between him and Zero, Zero called him `` the best lieutenant Space City has. '' In one episode of the series, Lieutenant Ninety underwent training as an XL pilot. Recurring Jock Campbell : - The Chief Engineer at Space City ( voiced by John Bluthal ). He is of Scottish descent and makes it clear he does n't think too highly of women but when Venus saves his life during an ill - fated mission, he starts to have a change of heart. Eleanor Zero : - Commander Zero 's wife ( voiced by Sylvia Anderson ) Jonathan Zero : - Commander Zero 's young son ( voiced by Sylvia Anderson ). According to the Little Golden Book ' Fireball XL5 ' story book published in the USA in 1964 young Jonathan was lucky enough to be a passenger aboard Fireball XL5 's maiden voyage which included an unscheduled stop at the planet Geminy. Captain Ken Ross : - The Pilot of several XL spaceships ( voiced by John Bluthal ). He often needs saving by the crew of XL5. Recurring Villains Space Spy Boris : - ( voiced by David Graham ) Space Spy Griselda : - ( voiced by Sylvia Anderson ) The Subterrains of Planet 46 : - ( voiced by John Bluthal and David Graham ) Planets Many episodes of Fireball XL5 were set on exotic planets : Amazonia -- a planet mentioned in the episode Prisoner on the Lost Planet as being a member of the United Planets Organization alongside Earth and which had banished its mad queen to an unnamed planet of active volcanoes. Aridan -- the desert planet that once had water but is now an arid wilderness seen in the episode `` Space Pirates '' Conva -- a regularly featured planet first introduced in the episode `` Space Pen '' as a planetwide prison for criminals and featured prominently in the episode `` Convict in Space '', in which one of its convicts escapes. Granatoid -- home of the Granatoid robots who appear in `` The Granatoid Tanks '' and described ( though not seen ) as having a completely technocratic society, led by a robot voiced by an uncredited Gerry Anderson. Granvenia -- a planet mentioned as the destination of fuel tankers that are being diverted to the planet Suventa in the episode `` Hypnotic Sphere ''. Hedera -- a planet rich in plant life that was visited in the episode `` Plant Man from Space '' and home of a rampant strain of Ivy called Hedera helixa. Herbos -- a jungle planet seen briefly in the episode `` Last of the Zanadus ''. Magneton -- a planet visited in the episode `` Space Magnet '' and inhabited by the invisible Solars. Membrono -- a planet that was nearly destroyed ( by another, unnamed planet ) in the episode `` The Doomed Planet ''. An advanced alien race lived on Membrono 's moon. Minerra -- a planet rich in radioactive minerals needed for earth resources seen in the episode `` Space Pirates '' Mirana -- a perpetually burning planet seen in the episode `` Hypnotic Sphere ''. Monotane -- a desert planet inhabited by a space monster in `` Space Monster ''. New Earth -- a planet with a thin atmosphere and little gravity that was to be colonised by the crew of the spaceship Mayflower - 3 in the episode Space Immigrants until spaceship Fireball XL7, sent out to prepare for the arrival of the Mayflower - 3, was captured by megalomaniacal aliens. Planet 46 -- home of the Subterrains and a barren planet with an oxygen atmosphere ; introduced in the pilot episode Planet 46 and appearing in numerous other episodes. Planet 73 -- a planet colonised by Earth and attacked by the Granatoids in the episode The Granatoid Tanks. Planet 82 -- a planet renamed Robotvia by Professor Al Himber. Platonia -- a planet featured in the episode Planet of Platonia and revealed to be rich in Platinum and inhabited by silver - skinned aliens who eat 23 - course meals. A trade agreement with Earth had created a power - struggle on the planet, which the XL5 crew was sent to calm. Rajusca -- A desert planet featured in the episode Sun Temple, in which the Earth is attacked by sun worshipping Rajuscans living in the desert. Suventa -- an ice - planet that is home to an unnamed brain - creature which hopes to use hypnotic satellites to take control of the universe. Triad -- a planet featured in the episode, The Triads, which is almost identical to earth in every way, except for being three times its size. Consequently, everything on it, plants, people, animals, etc. is three times the size it is on earth, also. The gigantic human inhabitants are friendly, but are at least 100 years behind earth technologically and were just attempting their first space launches when the crew of the XL5 visited. Zanadu -- a planet that featured a mysterious temple in the episode Last of the Zanadus Zofeit -- a planet whose inhabitants, the Zofeits, were almost wiped out ( only two males surviving ) by a lone alien in the episode XL5 to H 0. The crew of XL5 rescued the two survivors, who were evacuated to Earth. Episodes No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date Production code `` Planet 46 '' Gerry Anderson Gerry & Sylvia Anderson 28 October 1962 ( 1962 - 10 - 28 ) Fireball XL5 intercepts a planetomic missile sent to destroy Earth. On Planet 46 Steve and Venus are captured by the Subterrains -- who promptly launch a second missile, with Venus on board. `` The Doomed Planet '' Alan Pattillo Alan Fennell 4 November 1962 ( 1962 - 11 - 04 ) 5 The investigation of a flying saucer leads to Steve Zodiac attempting to save a planet which has broken out of its orbit and is on a collision course with another planet. `` Space Immigrants '' Alan Pattillo Anthony Marriott 11 November 1962 ( 1962 - 11 - 11 ) 8 The Mayflower III, piloted by Venus, is carrying pioneers to a new planet. The indigenous Lillispatians have objections to their world being colonized. `` Plant Man From Space '' John Kelly Anthony Marriott 18 November 1962 ( 1962 - 11 - 18 ) 6 Prof. Matic 's old friend, Dr. Rootes, attempts to conquer Earth using an invasive species of alien plant life -- which promptly runs amok. 5 `` Spy In Space '' Alan Pattillo Alan Fennell 25 November 1962 ( 1962 - 11 - 25 ) 11 Espionage at a fueling depot, courtesy of that notorious couple, Mr. and Mrs. Space Spy. Venus is held hostage yet again. 6 `` The Sun Temple '' Bill Harris Alan Fennell 2 December 1962 ( 1962 - 12 - 02 ) 7 On Rejusca, Steve and Zoonie must rescue the much - captured Venus from sun worshippers who intend to make a sizzling sacrifice of her to their solar deity. 7 `` XL5 To H O '' John Kelly Alan Fennell 9 December 1962 ( 1962 - 12 - 09 ) 12 Fireball responds to an urgent distress call from the last two survivors of a planet menaced by a weird fish man armed with a poisonous smoke gun. 8 `` Space Pirates '' Bill Harris Anthony Marriott 16 December 1962 ( 1962 - 12 - 16 ) 13 The Fireball crew gets entangled in a complicated game of bluff and double bluff to outwit a gang of space pirates plundering freighters from the mineral - rich planet Minera. 9 `` Flying Zodiac '' Bill Harris Anthony Marriott 23 December 1962 ( 1962 - 12 - 23 ) 10 Steve nearly falls victim to sabotage at a Space City circus as part of a complicated scheme by Mr. and Mrs. Space Spy to help alien nomads take over Earth. 10 `` Space Pen '' John Kelly Dennis Spooner 30 December 1962 ( 1962 - 12 - 30 ) 15 Posing as criminals, the Fireball crew head for the prison planet Conva in pursuit of two Space City raiders, only to end up in Mr. and Mrs. Space Spy 's lethal water chamber. 11 `` Space Monster '' John Kelly Gerry & Sylvia Anderson 6 January 1963 ( 1963 - 01 - 06 ) 9 Zoonie 's talent for mimicry gets the Fireball crew out of a tight spot when they investigate the disappearance of the XL2 and find themselves menaced by a space monster. 12 `` The Last of the Zanadus '' Alan Pattillo Anthony Marriott 13 January 1963 ( 1963 - 01 - 13 ) 14 Zoonie falls sick -- a victim of a plot by the evil Kudos, lone inhabitant of the planet Zanadu, to destroy all Lazoons with a deadly virus. Can Fireball XL5 obtain the antidote in time ? 13 `` Planet Of Platonia '' David Elliott Alan Fennell 20 January 1963 ( 1963 - 01 - 20 ) While bringing the King of the Plantium Planet to Earth for trade talks, the Fireball crew foils a bomb plot by the king 's aide, Volvo, to kill his ruler and plunge the two planets into war. 14 `` The Triads '' Alan Pattillo Alan Fennell 27 January 1963 ( 1963 - 01 - 27 ) 18 Steve, Venus, and Mat encounter Graff and Snaff, a couple of friendly giants, on Triad -- a planet three times the size of Earth -- and help them in their efforts to explore space. 15 `` Wings of Danger '' David Elliott Alan Fennell 3 February 1963 ( 1963 - 02 - 03 ) 17 While investigating strange signals coming from Planet 46, Steve Zodiac is unknowingly poisoned by a robot bird equipped with deadly radium capsules. Swift surgery by Venus saves his life, but the bird is waiting to `` pounce '' again. 16 `` Convict in Space '' Bill Harris Alan Fennell 10 February 1963 ( 1963 - 02 - 10 ) 16 Mr. and Mrs. Space Spy issue a fake distress call. But this time a convict being transported, not the XL5, is their primary target. 17 `` Space Vacation '' Alan Pattillo Dennis Spooner 17 February 1963 ( 1963 - 02 - 17 ) 22 A well - deserved vacation on the opulent planet of Olympus turns into a frenzied race against time when the crew becomes embroiled in a bizarre interplanetary feud. 18 `` Flight to Danger '' David Elliott Alan Fennell 24 February 1963 ( 1963 - 02 - 24 ) 21 To win his astronaut 's wings Lt. Ninety must complete a solo orbit of the moon. But disaster strikes when his rocket catches fire, and he is feared lost... or is he ? 19 `` Prisoner on the Lost Planet '' Bill Harris Anthony Marriott 3 March 1963 ( 1963 - 03 - 03 ) 20 Answering a distress call from uncharted space, Steve finds himself on a misty planet dominated by a giant smoldering volcano -- where he meets a beautiful Amazonian exile who threatens to activate said volcano if she is not helped to escape. 20 `` The Forbidden Planet '' David Elliott Anthony Marriott 10 March 1963 ( 1963 - 03 - 10 ) 25 Prof. Matic 's newest invention, the Ultrascope, obtains the planet Nutopia -- never before seen from Earth, and reputed to be the perfect planet. But Nutopians have an invention of their own... a matter transporter. 21 `` Robert to the Rescue '' Bill Harris Dennis Spooner 17 March 1963 ( 1963 - 03 - 17 ) 24 Steve, Mat, and Venus are imprisoned on an unknown world by two Domeheads, Magar and Proton, who propose to wipe their Earth memories and keep them there forever. Before being brainwashed, Steve cleverly orders Robert the Robot to rescue them... with curious results. 22 `` Dangerous Cargo '' John Kelly Dennis Spooner 24 March 1963 ( 1963 - 03 - 24 ) 27 On a mission to destroy an unstable ghost planet, Steve and Mat set explosives in a mineshaft -- only to find themselves trapped by the Subterrains. 23 `` Mystery of the TA2 '' John Kelly Dennis Spooner 31 March 1963 ( 1963 - 03 - 31 ) 23 When the crew finds the wreck of a spaceship that disappeared decades before, their search for the lost pilot, Col. Denton, leads them to the planet Arctan -- where they discover Denton living quite happily as king of the Ice People. 24 `` Drama at Space City '' Alan Pattillo Anthony Marriott 7 April 1963 ( 1963 - 04 - 07 ) 30 Jonathan Zero 's unauthorized midnight exploration of Fireball XL5 turns into a terrifying adventure when the ship launches and catches fire. 25 `` 1875 '' Bill Harris Anthony Marriott 14 April 1963 ( 1963 - 04 - 14 ) 28 Mat Matic 's new time machine whisks Steve, Venus and Cmdr. Zero back to the Wild West of 1875, where Steve becomes Sheriff and Venus and Zero are bank robbers. 26 `` The Granatoid Tanks '' Alan Pattillo Alan Fennell 21 April 1963 ( 1963 - 04 - 21 ) 26 Scientists on a glass - surfaced planet radio for help when they are menaced by six Granatoid tanks. Fireball XL5 responds but is powerless to halt the assault. A stowaway proves to be of unexpected help. 27 `` The Robot Freighter Mystery '' David Elliott Alan Fennell 28 April 1963 ( 1963 - 04 - 28 ) 29 Steve Zodiac resorts to subterfuge to prove that an unscrupulous pair of space salvage contractors, the Briggs Brothers, are sabotaging robot supply freighters so that they can pick up the pieces. 28 `` Whistle for Danger '' John Kelly Dennis Spooner 5 May 1963 ( 1963 - 05 - 05 ) 31 A plant disease has wiped out all vegetation on the jungle planet of Floran. The Fireball XL5 explodes an Ellvium bomb to eradicate the disease and restore the plant life -- but the inhabitants are suspicious of their motives and imprison Steve, Mat and Venus in a 100 - foot - tall ( 30 m ) tower. 29 `` Trial by Robot '' Bill Harris Alan Fennell 12 May 1963 ( 1963 - 05 - 12 ) 36 Robots have vanished from four planets -- and the disappearances are linked to visits by a famous robot scientist, Prof. Himber. When Robert also goes missing, Steve and Mat undertake the three - month journey to Planet 82, only to be put on trial by the mad professor -- the ruler of his kidnapped robot race. 30 `` A Day in the Life of a Space General '' David Elliott Alan Fennell 19 May 1963 ( 1963 - 05 - 19 ) 37 Lt. Ninety is promoted to general, but his erratic command wreaks havoc. A cascading series of disasters reaches its spectacular climax when Fireball XL5 crashes into Space City. What a nightmare... which is exactly what the hapless Lt. Ninety is having. 31 `` Invasion Earth '' Alan Pattillo Dennis Spooner 26 May 1963 ( 1963 - 05 - 26 ) 34 A strange cloud hides an invading alien fleet. 32 `` Faster Than Light '' Bill Harris Dennis Spooner 2 June 1963 ( 1963 - 06 - 02 ) 32 An out - of - control Fireball breaks the light barrier only to emerge in a sea of air. 33 `` The Day the Earth Froze '' David Elliott Alan Fennell 9 June 1963 ( 1963 - 06 - 09 ) 33 Icemen from the planet Zavia deflect the Sun 's rays, sending the Earth into a deep freeze. 34 `` The Fire Fighters '' John Kelly Alan Fennell 16 June 1963 ( 1963 - 06 - 16 ) 39 Fireballs are plunging to Earth from a mysterious gas cloud in space. Steve and his crew must contain the cloud before it reaches the atmosphere. Their plan goes smoothly until a technical fault forces Steve to complete the work by hand. 35 `` Space City Special '' Alan Pattillo Dennis Spooner 23 June 1963 ( 1963 - 06 - 23 ) 38 Astronaut of the Year Steve Zodiac needs all his skill to talk Venus down after she takes over the controls of a supersonic airliner whose pilot has been sent into a trance by Subterrains. 36 `` Ghosts of Space '' John Kelly Alan Fennell 6 October 1963 ( 1963 - 10 - 06 ) 35 Steve and a geologist attempt to solve the manifold mysteries of the seemingly deserted planet Electron, which is replete with electric rocks and weird, poltergeist - like happenings. 37 `` Hypnotic Sphere '' Alan Pattillo Alan Fennell 13 October 1963 ( 1963 - 10 - 13 ) Robert the Robot saves the day when the rest of the crew is thrown into a trance by a hypnotic sphere which has been spacejacking freighters. 38 `` Sabotage '' John Kelly Anthony Marriott 20 October 1963 ( 1963 - 10 - 20 ) 19 A neutroni bomb is planted on board the XL5 and the crew is kidnapped. 39 `` Space Magnet '' Bill Harris Anthony Marriott 27 October 1963 ( 1963 - 10 - 27 ) The Solars have their own use for our Moon. Translations ( in French ) : Fusée XL5 ( in Spanish ) : El Capitán Marte y su XL5. In the version shown in Latin - American countries, Colonel Zodiac is rechristened Capitán Marte ( `` Captain Mars '' ). ( in Greek ) : Πύρινη Σφαίρα ( pyrine sphaera = ball of fire ). See also Space Patrol -- Another marionette sci - fi space travel series from former Anderson collaborator Roberta Leigh. References Jump up ^ http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/flee-rekkers.htm Jump up ^ Amazon.com -- Fireball XL5 -- The Complete Series ( 1963 ) ^ Jump up to : Bentley, Chris ( 2008 ) ( 2001 ). The Complete Gerry Anderson : The Authorised Episode Guide ( 4 ed. ). Richmond, London : Reynolds and Hearn. ISBN 978 - 1 - 905287 - 74 - 1. External links Fireball XL5 on the official Gerry Anderson website Fireball XL5 on IMDb Fireball XL5 at the BFI 's Screenonline Fireball XL5 episodes at the Internet Archive Gerry Anderson Television The Adventures of Twizzle Torchy the Battery Boy Four Feather Falls Supercar episodes Fireball XL5 Stingray episodes Thunderbirds episodes Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons episodes Joe 90 episodes The Secret Service UFO The Protectors Space : 1999 episodes The Day After Tomorrow Terrahawks episodes Dick Spanner, P.I. Space Precinct Lavender Castle Firestorm Gerry Anderson 's New Captain Scarlet episodes Thunderbirds Are Go Film Crossroads to Crime Thunderbirds Are Go Thunderbird 6 Doppelgänger Captain Scarlet vs. the Mysterons Revenge of the Mysterons from Mars Thunderbirds Companies AP Films Century 21 Merchandising Filming techniques Supermarionation Other topics Sylvia Anderson Fanderson Filmed in Supermarionation Gerry Anderson 's Gemini Force One Lady Penelope TV Century 21 ITC Distributions Chronology Swashbucklers ( 1954 -- 1961 ) 1954 : The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel The Adventures of Robin Hood 1956 : The Count of Monte Cristo The Adventures of Sir Lancelot The Buccaneers 1957 : Sword of Freedom 1958 : The Adventures of William Tell 1961 : Sir Francis Drake Historical ( 1957, 1978 ) 1957 : OSS 1978 : Will Shakespeare Contemporary crime / Spy - fi ( 1958 -- 1979 ) 1958 : H.G. Wells ' Invisible Man 1959 : Interpol Calling 1960 : Danger Man 1961 : Ghost Squad 1962 : The Saint Man of the World 1963 : The Sentimental Agent 1964 : Danger Man ( hour - long episodes ) 1965 : Gideon 's Way 1966 : The Baron 1967 : Man in a Suitcase The Prisoner 1968 : The Champions Strange Report 1969 : Randall and Hopkirk ( Deceased ) Department S 1971 : Jason King The Persuaders ! 1972 : The Protectors The Adventurer 1974 : The Zoo Gang 1978 : Return of the Saint 1979 : Sapphire & Steel Gerry Anderson productions ( 1962 -- 1975, 1980 ) 1961 : Supercar 1962 : Fireball XL5 1964 : Stingray 1965 : Thunderbirds 1966 : Thunderbirds Are Go 1967 : Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons 1968 : Thunderbird 6 Joe 90 1969 : The Secret Service 1970 : UFO 1975 : Space : 1999 1980 : Captain Scarlet vs. the Mysterons ( unofficial ) Revenge of the Mysterons from Mars ( unofficial ) Films ( 1966 -- 1997 ) 1971 : Desperate Characters 1974 : The Tamarind Seed 1975 : The Count of Monte - Cristo Farewell, My Lovely The Return of the Pink Panther 1976 : The Eagle Has Landed Voyage of the Damned 1977 : Cross of Iron 1978 : Autumn Sonata The Big Sleep The Boys from Brazil Capricorn One The Medusa Touch Movie Movie 1979 : Escape to Athena The Muppet Movie 1980 : Raise the Titanic Saturn 3 Ca n't Stop the Music Inside Moves 1981 : On Golden Pond The Great Muppet Caper Gregory 's Girl The Legend of the Lone Ranger 1982 : The Dark Crystal The Last Unicorn Sophie 's Choice 1983 : The Scarlet and the Black 1984 : The Company of Wolves The Evil That Men Do Where the Boys Are ' 84 1986 : Whoops Apocalypse 1987 : The Brave Little Toaster The Stepfather 1988 : Without a Clue 1994 : The Last Seduction 1997 : Keys to Tulsa Religious productions ( 1976, 1977 ) 1976 : Moses the Lawgiver 1977 : Jesus of Nazareth Jim Henson productions ( 1976 -- 1982 ) 1976 : The Muppet Show 1979 : The Muppet Movie 1981 : The Great Muppet Caper 1982 : The Dark Crystal American productions ( 1959 -- 1971 ) 1959 : New York Confidential 1960 : Whiplash 1963 : The Forest Rangers 1971 : Shirley 's World Children 's programming on NBC in the 1960s First - run animated series King Leonardo and His Short Subjects The Ruff and Reddy Show The Bullwinkle Show The Underdog Show Hoppity Hooper Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales Go Go Gophers The Beagles The Atom Ant / Secret Squirrel Show The Super 6 Cool McCool Super President Birdman and the Galaxy Trio Samson & Goliath Here Comes the Grump The Pink Panther Show Kimba the White Lion Astro Boy First - run live - action series The Shari Lewis Show Watch Mr. Wizard Exploring Fireball XL5 The Banana Splits Adventure Hour Storybook Squares H.R. Pufnstuf First - run animated / live - action series The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Rebroadcasts Fury The Lone Ranger Make Room for Daddy Sgt. Preston of the Yukon The Jetsons Top Cat The Flintstones The Heckle and Jeckle Show Schedules 1960 -- 61 1961 -- 62 1962 -- 63 1963 -- 64 1964 -- 65 1965 -- 66 1966 -- 67 1967 -- 68 1968 -- 69 1969 -- 70 Related programming and topics Animation in the United States in the television era Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fireball_XL5&oldid=811971834 '' Categories : 1960s British children 's television series 1962 British television programme debuts 1963 British television programme endings 2060s in fiction AP Films Black - and - white British television programmes British action television series British science fiction television programmes ITV children 's television programmes English - language television programs Fictional spacecraft Marionette films NBC network shows Robots in television Space adventure television series Space Westerns Television programs featuring anthropomorphic characters Television programs featuring puppetry Television series by ITC Entertainment Television series set in the 21st century 1960s British science fiction television series Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from December 2013 All articles needing additional references Pages using infobox television with editor parameter Articles with French - language external links Articles with Spanish - language external links Articles with Greek - language external links Use British English from November 2012 Use dmy dates from November 2012 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français Nederlands 日本 語 Română 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 25 November 2017, at 03 : 51. 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Question: who sang the theme song to fireball xl5
Answer: Don Spencer