In 1959, as the Space Race captured the imagination of the world, the BBC launched one of its most ambitious radio dramas ever produced: Orbiter X.
Long believed lost for decades, this remarkable 14-part science-fiction serial follows the Commonwealth Space Project as it builds humanity’s first orbital space station. But when the pioneering spacecraft Orbiter I mysteriously disappears, Captain Bob Britton and the crew of Orbiter II are sent to investigate—only to discover that something far more dangerous than mechanical failure is waiting in the darkness of space.
Episode One, The First Step to the Stars, introduces a mystery that quickly grows into a thrilling adventure of space exploration, scientific imagination, and an international struggle for the future of mankind. With atmospheric sound design, memorable characters, and cliffhanger endings worthy of the Golden Age of radio, Orbiter X remains one of the finest science-fiction serials ever produced for the airwaves.
Beginning tonight, we’ll present one new episode every weekday. Whether you’re hearing the series for the first time or rediscovering this forgotten classic, we invite you to make it part of your evening routine at The Little Station on Commercial Street.
🚀 In This Episode
The First Step to the Stars
Original Broadcast: September 28, 1959
Runtime: 28 minutes
The Commonwealth Space Project prepares to assemble the world’s first permanent space station in Earth orbit. When contact is suddenly lost with the pioneering spacecraft Orbiter I, a rescue mission is launched. What begins as a routine investigation soon uncovers a mystery that will carry humanity into unknown territory.
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