In the mid 1950's the Light Programme service had the idea that a Science Fiction series would be popular. The assignment was handed over to producer Charles Chilton. Chilton didn't have any background in science, or science fiction, but the general thought was that if he could produce a successful western from London (Riders of the Rangehad six seasons, ending in 1953) he should be able to handle a trip to the moon!
Originally scheduled for eight episodes, Journey to the Moon proved to be some what tedious listening through the first four episodes, as the "ground work" was established for a moon launch using the best guesses of the potential technology from a 1953 perspective. Once the mission "got off the ground", following the launch of the spacecraft in episode 5, the popularity soared as well, and the series was extended to 18 episodes (rerecorded the original series for overseas distribution in 1958, as Operation Luna. This time the story began with the action of episode 5!) It was to be the last time a radio program would attract a larger evening audience than Television. One television producer challenged Chilton to create an episode that couldn't have been broadcast on TV, and he responded with episode 8, where most of the action takes place in the dark after the space ship looses power on the lunar surface.
Eventually the crew is able to lift off from the moon, only to be taken back in time to land on a prehistoric earth. The crew is led by Jet Morgan, and composed of Doc Matthews and Stephen "Mitch" Mitchell. Lemmy Barnet is the cockney radio operator. In the next series , the Red Planet, the explorers lead a fleet of ships that leave from the moon to Mars. The fleet consists of Jet's flagship, the Discovery, and eight freighters carrying cargo for the expedition. From the beginning there is interference which we learn is from the Martians, who are in the process of their own invasion of Earth! In the third serial, the World in Peril, the crew attempts to avert the Martian invasion. The Journey Into Space Series is a marvelous science fiction adventure, as well as a terrific radio serial, featuring numerous cliff-hangers and plot twists. Journey Into Space would influence the later producers of the Doctor Who, and was a favorite of physicist Stephen Hawking.
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