Meta Probe
Encyclopedia
The Meta Probe was a fictional spacecraft in the Space: 1999
episode "Breakaway
", it appears in just a few scenes of this pilot episode.
's solar system. This planet, code named "Meta", was first discovered when radio-astronomers detected its unique and repetitive radio signals. At this time, the World Space Commission (still smarting from the financial and public-relations failure of the Ultra Probe
mission of 1996-1997) decided to launch a 'no-frills' two-man deep-space probe to investigate. Construction of the vessel was completed and training of the primary and back-up crew was complete by September of 1999. At that time, the previously-launched unmanned probe, Spacefarer 9, relayed photographs of a planetary body with a defined atmosphere. This gave even greater support to the theories that the Meta signals were generated by intelligent life.
The mission was put on hold when the primary crew contracted a mild 'virus infection', as per Earth Command press releases. In actuality, they had all the symptoms of radiation-induced cerebral cancer, but no actual radiation exposure could be detected. During the investigation of the unknown illness, both men died in the Intensive Care Unit on Moonbase Alpha
. On 9 September 1999, incoming Alpha Base Commander John Koenig
was dispatched to the Moon with one overriding order from his superiors: Launch the probe at any cost. Despite his misgivings, preparations were made to continue the mission with the back-up crew; it would take seven days' time to calculate the new launch window and flight vectors for the months-long voyage.
The mission never took place; the unknown events at the nuclear waste disposal areas culminated in a massive nuclear explosion that blasted the Moon out of orbit on 13 September 1999.
command module attached to a cylindrical 4.5-metre module that probably contains habitation facilities and logistics (interior of which was never seen in the episode). The overall length appears to be about fifty metres. It is not a very large craft and consequently the crew consisted of just two astronauts.
The vessel is seen docking with the Space Dock
at the start of the episode "Breakaway
", and being flung away from it during the breakaway of the moon at its climax as the over-stressed Space Dock station explodes. It is not known if the Meta Probe ship itself survived; it is presumed destroyed in the cataclysm.
. Warren and Sparkman (and their counterparts in the back-up crew) flew training missions on the Moon's far side over Disposal Area One — also known as Navigation Beacon Delta — at high altitudes It was this 'limited' exposure which brought about their protracted illness (the affected disposal area workers died much more rapidly and violently).
Space: 1999
Space: 1999 is a British science-fiction television series that ran for two seasons and originally aired from 1975 to 1977. In the opening episode, nuclear waste from Earth stored on the Moon's far side explodes in a catastrophic accident on 13 September 1999, knocking the Moon out of orbit and...
episode "Breakaway
Breakaway (Space: 1999)
"Breakaway" is the first episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by George Bellak ; the director was Lee H. Katzin. Previous titles include 'Zero-G', 'The Void Ahead' and 'Turning Point'. The final shooting script is dated 22 November 1973...
", it appears in just a few scenes of this pilot episode.
Mission Profile
The Meta Probe was intended to be a deep-space mission to investigate a rogue planet passing through the outer limits of EarthEarth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
's solar system. This planet, code named "Meta", was first discovered when radio-astronomers detected its unique and repetitive radio signals. At this time, the World Space Commission (still smarting from the financial and public-relations failure of the Ultra Probe
Ultra Probe
The Ultra Probe was a fictional spacecraft in the Space: 1999 episode "Dragons Domain".A long-range explorer ship, the Ultra Probe was designed to take a crew of four to the planet Ultra, which had been discovered by Professor Victor Bergman in 1994...
mission of 1996-1997) decided to launch a 'no-frills' two-man deep-space probe to investigate. Construction of the vessel was completed and training of the primary and back-up crew was complete by September of 1999. At that time, the previously-launched unmanned probe, Spacefarer 9, relayed photographs of a planetary body with a defined atmosphere. This gave even greater support to the theories that the Meta signals were generated by intelligent life.
The mission was put on hold when the primary crew contracted a mild 'virus infection', as per Earth Command press releases. In actuality, they had all the symptoms of radiation-induced cerebral cancer, but no actual radiation exposure could be detected. During the investigation of the unknown illness, both men died in the Intensive Care Unit on Moonbase Alpha
Moonbase Alpha
Moonbase Alpha is a fictional moon base and the main setting in the science fiction television series Space: 1999.-Moonbase Alpha:Located in the Moon crater Plato and constructed out of quarried rock and ores, Moonbase Alpha is four kilometres in diameter and extends up to one kilometre in areas...
. On 9 September 1999, incoming Alpha Base Commander John Koenig
John Koenig
John Koenig is a fictional character from the television series Space: 1999. He was played by Martin Landau. He is American, apparently in his early forties.-Character Biography:...
was dispatched to the Moon with one overriding order from his superiors: Launch the probe at any cost. Despite his misgivings, preparations were made to continue the mission with the back-up crew; it would take seven days' time to calculate the new launch window and flight vectors for the months-long voyage.
The mission never took place; the unknown events at the nuclear waste disposal areas culminated in a massive nuclear explosion that blasted the Moon out of orbit on 13 September 1999.
Design Elements
It is a sleek craft, powered by three nuclear powered rocket engines. The center section comprises four cylindrical propellant tanks plus two solar panel-like structures. The forward section consists of a standard two-person EagleEagle (Space: 1999)
The Eagle Transporter is a fictional spacecraft and the iconic image of the 1970s television series Space: 1999. The Eagles serve as the primary spacecraft of Moonbase Alpha, which has a fleet of them. The Eagles are primarily used to explore alien planets, defend Moonbase Alpha from attack, and to...
command module attached to a cylindrical 4.5-metre module that probably contains habitation facilities and logistics (interior of which was never seen in the episode). The overall length appears to be about fifty metres. It is not a very large craft and consequently the crew consisted of just two astronauts.
The vessel is seen docking with the Space Dock
Space Dock (Space: 1999)
The Space Dock was a fictional space station in the television series Space: 1999 . Referred to simply as the Space Dock it is also called the Meta Probe Launch Platform in "Breakaway" and the Interplanetary Space Station in "Dragon's Domain" episodes of the series...
at the start of the episode "Breakaway
Breakaway (Space: 1999)
"Breakaway" is the first episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by George Bellak ; the director was Lee H. Katzin. Previous titles include 'Zero-G', 'The Void Ahead' and 'Turning Point'. The final shooting script is dated 22 November 1973...
", and being flung away from it during the breakaway of the moon at its climax as the over-stressed Space Dock station explodes. It is not known if the Meta Probe ship itself survived; it is presumed destroyed in the cataclysm.
Meta Probe Flight Crew
Astronauts Frank Warren and Eric Sparkman were selected as the primary crew for the Meta Probe Mission. One may assume they both had a science background in addition to flight training as they were the sole crewmembers on this bare-bones mission. Both men died before the scheduled launch from a new and horrifying form of radiation sickness, later discovered to have been caused by magnetic radiation. This new form of radiation was emanating from the nuclear waste disposal areas on the far side of the MoonFar side of the Moon
The far side of the Moon is the lunar hemisphere that is permanently turned away, and is not visible from the surface of the Earth. The far hemisphere was first photographed by the Soviet Luna 3 probe in 1959, and was first directly observed by human eyes when the Apollo 8 mission orbited the Moon...
. Warren and Sparkman (and their counterparts in the back-up crew) flew training missions on the Moon's far side over Disposal Area One — also known as Navigation Beacon Delta — at high altitudes It was this 'limited' exposure which brought about their protracted illness (the affected disposal area workers died much more rapidly and violently).
External links
- Space 1999 - Catacombs - Description of the Meta Probe.