1. The Beginning

It's the eve of the first British manned space shot.

In the global race into space, Britain has gained an advantage inventing a propulsion system enabling exploration of distant regions of the universe within weeks instead of years

However during the dummy run, there's a mysterious outbreak of illness amongst scientists.

Could the consequences prove fatal..?

Colin Cooper and Anne Howell's six-part sci-fi serial was first broadcast two years before Neil Armstrong became the first human to step on the moon in 1969.

Back then, concerns were raised over microbes being brought back to Earth by American and Russian space crews.

Harold Benson .… Ian Thompson
Claire Stuart .… Brenda Bruce
Professor Tate .… Rolf Lefebvre
Professor Ormskirk .… Clive Morton
David Holland .… Alexander John
Rathbone .… Timothy Bateson
Dr Edwards .… Heron Carvic
Sister .… Beth Boyd
Nat Blakey .… Nigel Anthony
Editor .… Antony Viccars
Policeman .… Preston Lockwood

Electronic sound and music created by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

Producer: Nesta Pain.

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in July 1967.