Zero-X

The Zero-X (spelling variants include: "Zero X" or "Zero - X") is a fictitious Earth spacecraft that appeared in two of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Supermarionation productions. Although publicity material for the various Supermarionation series, and the TV Century 21 comic book, made references to connections between the series, the Zero-X is the only official connection between the two series, appearing in the Thunderbirds feature film Thunderbirds are GO (1966) and in the first episode of the next Supermarionation series, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967).

Construction

The first manned craft to land on Mars, the metallic blue Zero-X spacecraft comprises a number of detachable sections. The main body houses the chemical engines which provide the craft with the thrust required for lift-off and the subsequent journey to Mars. The Martian Excursion Vehicle (MEV) is attached to the front of the main body where it serves as the spaceship's main control center during space flight. During atmospheric ingress or egress, two remotely controlled "lifting bodies" (self-propelled "flying wing" aerofoils) are attached to the main body at the front and rear of the craft. Finally, a heatproof nose cone with an aluminum exoskeleton protects the MEV during takeoff and provides further aerodynamic flow to the vehicle in atmospheric ascent; it is jettisoned shortly after leaving the Earth's atmosphere, and is the only non-reusable part of the spacecraft.

The lifting bodies act as wings to allow the craft to operate from a runway like a conventional aeroplane, and carry multiple jet engines to reduce the amount of fuel needed for the main body's chemical engines. They separate from the main body when the craft is at a sufficiently high altitude and fly back to base; on re-entry, they rendezvous with the spacecraft and dock with it to again act as wings and provide propulsion in the atmosphere. On reaching Mars, the MEV detaches from the main body, which is left in orbit piloted by a single astronaut, and descends towards the planet's surface. At the surface the MEV extends caterpillar tracks to negotiate the rocky terrain.

The concept of a reusable first-stage lifting body (or in this case, bodies) boosting a smaller spacecraft to high altitude for more efficient use of its propulsion was in direct competition with the vertical-ascent rocket doctrine in the 1960s as a means of achieving spaceflight, and ultimately lost out to it, as even the Space Shuttle - which lands as a conventional aircraft - makes a vertical rocket powered ascent in the 'classical' manner. The Zero-X contrasts in this way with the Thunderbird 3, which, though nominally more advanced (hinted at because of its secrecy), is still a vertical-ascent rocket.

Appearances

Thunderbirds Are GO

The first manned mission to Mars ended in failure after the Zero-X spacecraft was accidentally sabotaged by the Hood, who had stowed aboard the craft to photograph its wing mechanisms. The crew managed to escape and two years later a second Zero-X craft successfully reached Mars in September 2065. However, soon after touching down on the surface, the MEV was attacked by Martian Rock Snakes. While the astronauts managed to escape, the lifting body control-systems onboard the MEV sustained damage during the confrontation, causing the Zero-X to crash upon its return to Earth, landing in Craigsville, U.S., roughly 20 miles from its launch site, the fictitious Glenn Field Spaceport, Nevada. The crew survived, having been saved at the last minute (quite literally) by International Rescue.

In both missions, the Zero-X was manned by three crew and two scientists:

• Paul Travers (Captain)(for the overall mission)
• Greg Martin (Space Captain)(for the flight)
• Brad Newman (Space Navigator)
• Dr. Tony Grant (Astrophysicist)
• Dr. Ray Pierce (Astronomer)

Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons

A further Zero-X mission returned to Mars in 2068 sponsored by Spectrum in search of the source of alien signals detected from Earth. The crew's hostile actions lead to a "war of nerves" with the Mysterons in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. After tracing the signals to an alien facility, the mission commander, Captain Black, gave the order to fire upon the facility after mistaking scanning devices for weapon emplacements and fearing they were about to be attacked. Following its devastation, the three men crew of the MEV then witnessed the miraculous rematerialisation (retrometabolism, in the language of the television program) of the Mysteron city, and for their act of aggression the Mysterons took control of Captain Black’s mind and body as the principal agent of their vengeance.

It is never specified whether Black and the crew actually died on Mars, but when the Zero-X returned to Earth with Black as its only occupant, he vanished after the craft reached Glenn Field Spaceport, and it wasn’t long after this that the people of Earth received their first threat from the Mysterons from Mars.

Although the Zero-X does not appear in Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet (2005), a reference is made to it using the lifting bodies for helping spaceships into orbit.

Comics

A series featuring the adventures of the crew of the Zero-X appeared in the comic TV Century 21 and its successors, including Countdown.

Project SWORD

A model of the Zero-X was included in the Project SWORD line of toys marketed by Century 21 Productions.

Trivia

• The commander of the Zero X, Paul Travers, was modelled on Sean Connery, who was starring as James Bond at the time Thunderbirds Are GO! was made.

References

• Image of Zero X model by AOSHIMA

External Links

• The Gerry Anderson Encyclopedia On Zero-X