Since it first appeared, "Thunderbirds" has made a significant impact on popular culture and media worldwide. Anderson's later puppet series"Terrahawks", about an organisation that defends Earth against hostile androids from Mars, is thematically similar to "Thunderbirds" but written more as a comedy. International Rescue was the inspiration for the International Rescue Corps, a volunteer rescue organisation started by a group of British firefighters who contributed to the humanitarian effort in the aftermath of the 1980 Irpinia earthquake. The charity made Gerry Anderson its honorary president and has since assisted at disaster zones in various countries.