Original subtitles

(dramatic, orchestral music)

- Okay Venus?

- Okay Steve.

- Right, let's go.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

(rocket blasts) (whirring)

(cheerful, jazzy music)

(dramatic, orchestral music)

(cheerful, jazzy music)

(rocket whooshing)

Think, Lieutenant Ninety, use your head, man.

Get this ship under control!

You'll never get your astronaut wings

if you can't concentrate on what you're doing.

- I, I'm sorry Colonel Zodiac, sir,

I'll have it right in a minute.

- A minute's too long, Lieutenant,

get her under control now!

(rocket blasting)

(rocket humming)

Just gotta keep your head, don't panic.

- I'm sorry, Colonel, it won't happen again.

(rocket humming)

- Okay Lieutenant Ninety,

we're heading back towards Earth on the correct course.

- Yeah, Colonel, how do you think I'm progressing then,

apart from that slip?

Will | get my astronaut's wings?

- Well, you're doing just great, Lieutenant,

but remember, this is only the first step.

- Yes sir, | Know what you mean.

So far I've just learned how to fly a ship in space.

I've got to be able to make a touchdown

before | pass stage C.

- That's right, then comes stage B,

the blastoff from the launch rail

with you as captain of the ship.

- Guess the toughest of all is stage A,

the solo orbit of the moon in a space capsule.

- As you Say, that's the toughest of all.

Have you been in touch with Space City Control, Matt?

- Eh, yes Steve,

Commander Zero has given us touchdown clearance.

- Roger, Matt.

Okay Lieutenant, she's all yours.

We'll see how you do at touchdown right now.

- But Steve, I, I'm not ready.

- | guess I'm the best judge of that.

Now take her down!

(cheerful, orchestral music)

- In upper atmosphere now, Steve.

- Roger Matt.

How do you feel, Lieutenant?

- Oh, a bit scared | guess, Steve.

|, | didn't realise I'd have to touchdown on this trip.

(rocket rumbling)

- Fireball XL5 to Space City,

we're coming in, Commander Zero.

- Roger, Fireball XL5,

ready to receive you 60 seconds from now.

- It may take a little longer than that, Commander,

we don't want to rush Lieutenant Ninety

on his first touchdown.

- Lieutenant Ninety, are you crazy, Steve?

He can't bring a ship down yet, he's not ready.

- Gotta do it sometime and | reckon it's right now.

- Firing main retros.

(rocket blasts)

- Okay Steve, if you say he's ready,

that's good enough for me.

Sound the alarm!

Crash tenders, stand by!

- The trouble with Zero is, he worries too much.

- | don't know, Steve, the Commander could be right.

He usually is.

(rocket whirring)

- Okay Lieutenant,

now keep your head and you'll make it okay.

- Over Pacific now, Steve, 3,000 feet and steady.

- The Lieutenant wants to be a controller in Space City

so he has to learn to fly a space ship,

but who gets all the worries?

Me!

Oh, that tooty Lieutenant's gonna crash Fireball,

| can feel it in my bones!

(rocket whirring)

- Great, Lieutenant, we're over Space City.

Now switch to downward thrust and take her down gently.

(rocket blasting) (hissing)

Steady, Lieutenant, hold her steady.

(rocket hissing)

- Reduce power, you will have to reduce power!

(rocket whirring) (hissing)

- Fire emergency retros, Lieutenant, fast!

(rocket blasts)

- Starboard wing's dipped, Steve!

- Raise the starboard wing, Lieutenant.

(rocket humming)

Lieutenant, the starboard wing, get it up!

(rocket humming) (hissing)

Well Lieutenant, you got the ship down.

- And what a mess | made of it, Colonel.

I'll never be a full controller at this rate.

- XL5 crew, report to Space City control.

Well, | guess Ninety's got through the first stage

to earning his astronaut wings.

- Well the decision is yours, Commander,

but I'd recommend it.

This'll make Ninety far more capable

of controlling space traffic.

- Yeah, but don't tell him too often.

He'll be getting a big head.

- Is all this gear necessary, Dr. Venus?

It's making my head ache.

- I'm sorry, Lieutenant, but it is a little small for you.

Now if you stay still for a few more seconds,

| may as well do your next preflight medical checks.

- What's next for Lieutenant Ninety, Steve?

- Oh, | reckon he ought to go straight out to stage B.

- Okay Steve, you're the boss.

Gee, | wish you'd have been around when | took my wings,

| never had it this easy.

Stand by, stand by, prepare XL1 for blastoff.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

Okay Lieutenant Ninety,

guess you're gonna fly a ship on your own.

- But sir, not an XL ship, I, | need a crew.

- Oh now relax, Lieutenant, you can take Robert as copilot.

- Yeah son, and I'll be your navigator.

You'll have plenty of lone space flying

when you orbit the moon in that capsule.

- Come on, Lieutenant, I'll be in the ship's lab,

keeping check on your reactions.

- Gee thanks, Dr. Venus.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

- Lower winches.

(humming machinery)

XL1 crew, this is Control, prepare to board.

Well, what does it feel like to be a backroom boy, Steve?

- Not for me, Commander, I'm strictly an action guy.

- [Lieutenant Ninety] Boarding XL1 now, Control.

- Roger, Lieutenant.

Okay Steve, get the winches released and let's go.

- Release winches and stand by for liftoff.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

- Standing by, all checks green, go go go!

(rocket blasts) (whirring)

(rocket blasts)

XL1 to Control, liftoff A-okay.

- She looks good, Lieutenant.

- Yeah well, don't let it go to your head, Ninety,

that ship cost a heap of dough.

(rocket whirring)

- He's doing just great, Commander.

- Yeah Steve, it looks that way.

| wonder how he'll stand up to the third stage,

the space capsule test?

- That's a good question.

The first astronauts, 100 years ago, found it pretty lonely,

but it's still the best test of a space pilot's powers

of endurance and aptitude.

(cheerful, orchestral music) (whirring rocket)

- Space City to XL1, okay Lieutenant, bring her back.

- And let's have a real, smooth touchdown, huh?

(rocket whirring)

Throttle back, steady.

(rocket whirring)

Downward thrust retros.

(retros blast) (rocket humming)

Easy, she looks good.

(rocket humming)

- | made it!

Matt, Venus, | made it, a perfect touchdown!

- You sure did, son!

- Congratulations, Lieutenant.

- [Lieutenant Ninety] Yippee!

| commanded a ship.

- Okay, okay pipe down, Lieutenant,

you haven't won your wings yet.

Now relax for the evening, you're off duty 'til dawn.

- And then, for the orbit of the moon.

(gentle, quiet music)

(beeping controls) (humming machinery)

(cheerful, quiet music)

- [Steve] Steve Zodiac here.

- Hi Steve, how's the musical relaxation course going

at Venus' beach house?

- [Steve] Just boss, Commander, how are you doing?

- Eh, we're checking the VTO rocket now.

So long, have fun.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

- [Man] All checks on capsule are green, Commander Zero.

- Roger, file your report with Rickors, then get some sleep.

(cheerful, upbeat music)

- Say Venus,

thanks for inviting us over to your beach house.

- Yeah, it was a good idea of yours, Venus.

Lieutenant would have worried himself sick in his quarters.

- You're right, Steve.

Right now, I'm just not gonna think about tomorrow.

(phone rattling) (cheerful music)

- [Commander Zero] All checks complete, Steve and okay.

- Fine, Commander Zero, I'll tell the Lieutenant.

- Yes sir, the rocket's in swell shape.

Blast off time is at 900 hours.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

(flame hisses)

(dramatic, orchestral music)

Blast off, minus four minutes, Lieutenant.

- Roger, Commander.

Gee, it sure is cramped in here.

- Yeah Ninety, that's one of the hazards

of wanting to be a controller.

Stick with it and keep cool.

- Fireball XL5 to Control, request permission to lift off.

All systems read green, Commander.

- [Commander Zero] Roger, Steve, liftoff permission granted.

- [Lieutenant Ninety] See you in space, Steve.

- A-okay, Lieutenant, we'll be waiting for you.

(rocket blasts) (whirring)

(rocket blasts)

Liftoff, A-okay, Commander Zero,

heading for observation point 2410 blue.

- [Commander Zero] Roger, Steve.

- Cut boosters, Steve, we're out of Earth's atmosphere

and approaching observation point.

- [Steve] Thanks Matt.

Are you ready with remote medical checking gear, Venus?

- Yes Steve.

(rocket rumbling) (blasting)

- Okay Robert, keep her on free-float.

- On free-float.

- Okay Commander, we're ready when you are.

- Roger, Steve.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

Blastoff minus 10 seconds.

Nine,

eight,

seven,

six,

five,

four,

three,

two,

one,

zero,

ignition.

(rocket blasts)

(metal clatters)

(rocket rumbling)

(dramatic, orchestral music)

(rocket hissing)

(monitor clicking)

All systems go go go, A-okay.

(rocket rumbling)

- Test capsule to Fireball XL5, do you hear me?

- Loud and clear, Lieutenant,

you should be out of Earth's atmosphere now.

(rocket rumbling)

- There goes the first stage, two more to go.

(machinery humming) (gentle beeping)

- Test rocket approaching, time we were moving, Matt.

We must keep up with the Lieutenant

if we're going to continue observation.

- Roger, Steve, Ninety's capsule is on course 9270 green,

lunar orbit route.

(rocket blasts)

(rocket whirring)

- Second stage away, Steve.

Gee it uh, sure is hot in here

and this weightlessness is eerie,

bit different to Fireball with its artificial gravity.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

(rocket rumbling)

(machinery humming) (quiet beeping)

- The Lieutenant's pulse rate is increasing steadily, Steve,

but there's no cause for alarm at the moment.

(rocket rumbling)

- Approaching lunar area, Steve.

(dramatic, orchestral music)

(rockets whirring)

- Prepare to go into lunar orbit, Lieutenant.

- Steve, the Lieutenant's pulse rate is very high,

something must be wrong in the capsule.

- Lieutenant Ninety, run a check on all system.

- They all read green, Steve,

everything checks out A-okay,

going into orbit around moon now.

Last stage away.

(rocket rumbling)

(dramatic, orchestral music) (fire crackling)

- Lieutenant's doing just great in my book, Venus.

One orbit should be enough.

- | agree, Steve.

Apart from the increased temperature

of the Lieutenant's body,

he has proved he can stand the psychological strain

of being completely alone in space.

(rocket whirring)

- Cut main capsule motors, Lieutenant,

you'll need all the fuel you have

to break lunar orbit for the return journey to Earth.

- Roger, Steve, main motors cut.

(dramatic, orchestral music) (flames crackling)

(rocket whirring)

- Orbit nearly completed, Venus.

For my money, the Lieutenant's on his way

to getting his space wings.

- Yes Steve, his temperature has dropped too,

ever since he cut the motors.

- Could be they are overheating slightly,

but it can't be serious, there'd be a warning along.

- Guess you're right, Matt.

Okay, Lieutenant, that's it, break lunar orbit.

- Roger, Steve, firing main motors

when space time clock reaches 21102.

Six seconds.

Five,

four,

three,

two,

one,

fire.

(lever clicks)

(rocket humming) (flames crackling)

(dramatic, orchestral music)

It's getting warm again, Steve.

And this smoke,

Steve, the capsule's on fire!

- Don't panic, Lieutenant!

Matt, what could have happened?

- The reactor must have broken free,

but it would still be operating

or the alarm would have sounded.

(dramatic, orchestral music) (rocket whirring)

- The capsule's out of control!

I'm gaining speed fast!

- And he means fast, Steve.

Fire main boosters or we'll lose him.

(dramatic, orchestral music) (whirring rocket)

(flames crackling)

- The motor's have gone crazy!

I'll burn up!

- Jettison fuel, Lieutenant, jettison fuel now!

We'll catch up with you and if you come (voice cuts out)

- Oh, the radio, it's failed!

Hello, Colonel Zodiac, can you hear me?

- Matt, Venus, we've lost contact with the capsule.

Lieutenant Ninety's radio must have blown.

- And my contact with Lieutenant Ninety

has failed too, Steve.

- This is serious, Steve,

we don't know what's happening to him.

(whirring rocket)

- I've gotta get out of here. (coughing)

Must

put on thruster pack.

(flames crackling) (dramatic, orchestral music)

(rocket whirring)

- We've got to trace that capsule, Matt,

we've got to try and save him.

- She shot out of range!

Wait,

I've got it!

Stear eh,

7220 yellow.

- Roger.

Full power, main thrust.

(rocket rumbling)

Matt, the capsule's slowing up,

Lieutenant Ninety must have jettisoned the fuel.

Get me a thruster pack, Venus.

- Okay Steve, I'll meet you in the ejection room.

- Blow up capsule.

Blow up capsule.

(rockets whirring)

- Okay, eject.

- Take care, Steve.

(gentle, quiet music)

(flames crackling) (dramatic, orchestral music)

(rocket blasts)

- Steve, are you okay?

- Yeah Venus, guess so.

But Lieutenant Ninety, he couldn't have stood a chance.

(gentle, quiet music) (humming rocket)

Returning to Earth, Matt.

Plot the course, will you?

- Yes Steve.

You know it was an accident.

You can't blame yourself.

- Maybe not, Matt, but | keep asking myself,

was the Lieutenant ready for that space capsule test?

- Well all know he was, Steve.

He won his wings before he,

he went.

Oh Steve, how terrible,

he was such a nice boy.

- He sure was, Venus.

Somebody had better tell Commander Zero.

- I'll do it.

It's not going to be easy.

(gentle, quiet music)

| tried to reach him, Commander.

- [Commander Zero] | know, Steve, that goes without saying.

The Lieutenant was the best assistant | ever had.

- [Steve] Yeah, he would have made a fine controller.

| guess the World Space Patrol has lost a mighty good man.

- Yeah, you'd better get down here, Steve,

there will have to be an inquiry.

- Sure, Commander, we're on our way.

(gentle, quiet music)

- One oxygen pill left.

They'll never find me in time.

(rocket humming)

Oh, (sighs)

| guess it's all over.

| might as well have stayed in the capsule

instead of ejecting into space without a thruster pack.

- Say Steve, I'm uh,

picking up a strange signal on the space m'graph.

- Okay Matt, | guess we still have to carry on.

Let's check it out.

(rocket rumbling) (gentle music)

- Haven't got long now,

but I,

| reckon | won my wings.

Hope they'll remember me back on Earth.

They, they sure were a good crowd to work with in,

in Space City.

(rocket rumbles)

- Can you identify that signal yet, Matt?

- [Professor] No Steve, but uh,

there is definitely something there, drifting.

(gentle, quiet music)

Steve!

It's,

it's a man!

- What?

- Yes, yes you are right.

Could it be?

Yes!

It's Lieutenant Ninety.

- Venus, thruster pack and oxygen mask,

to the ejection room and fast!

(energetic, orchestral music)

- Give him oxygen at rate five

as soon as you reach him, Steve.

- Check, rate five, ejecting.

(ejector hissing)

(energetic, orchestral music)

Hang on, Lieutenant.

(energetic, orchestral music)

- Well, | guess this'll put you right, Lieutenant Ninety.

- Oh!

Gee, my astronaut's wings!

- [Venus] Congratulations, Lieutenant Ninety.

- Good boy, Ninety, that was some show.

- Well, you sure earned them.

- Yep, | never doubted for a moment you'd do it, Lieutenant,

but like | said before, don't let this go to your head.

An astronaut like Steve here

faces such dangers every day.

- You know, Commander, for once,

| don't think he has heard a word you said.

- Astronaut Ninety

of the World Space Patrol.

(cheerful, orchestral music)

the fastest guy alive

I I'd fly you around the universe in Fireball XL5 I

~ Way out in space together J

~ Conquerors of the sky

My heart would be a fireball, a fireball S

f Every time | gazed into your starry eyes f

¢ We'd take the path to Jupiter and maybe very soon f

£ We'd cruise along the Milky Way and land upon the moon J

~ To a wonderland of stardust, we'll zoom away to Mars I

My heart would be a fireball, a fireball S

£ And you would be my Venus of the stars I

(cheerful, orchestral music)