Day: January 16, 2018

The Flash: The Trial Of The Flash

The FlashThe CW airs the 78th episode of The Flash, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ superhero starring Grant Gustin.

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Gene Cernan, Apollo 17 astronaut, dies

Gene CernanApollo 17 Commander Eugene Cernan, the last human to leave the surface of the moon in the 20th century, dies at the age of 82. One of the members of NASA’s second astronaut class, recruited in 1963 to take part in the Gemini program, Cernan first flew into space aboard Gemini 9 in 1966, a mission in which he became the second American spacewalker, though his assigned tasks outside the Gemini spacecraft proved to be dangerously exhausting. His second flight, as the lunar module pilot for Apollo 10, saw him flying a lunar lander to within miles of the moon’s surface in May 1969, a dress rehearsal for the upcoming Apollo 11 mission. He commanded the final Apollo moon landing mission, Apollo 17, in December 1972, where he earned the title of “last man on the moon” by being the last astronaut to leave the lunar surface to re-enter the Apollo 17 lander. He later wrote an autobiography about his spaceflight experiences, and was frequently outspoken about his disappointment that no one walked on the moon again in his lifetime.

ESA to provide Orion service modules

OrionThe European Space Agency and NASA sign an agreement allowing ESA to provide service modules for the upcoming Orion manned spacecraft, with the first module flying as part of an unmanned test scheduled to take place in 2017. While the Orion command module capsules will be built for NASA by contractor Lockheed Martin, the service modules to which the capsules will be connected are to be provided by ESA and customized for each mission (which could include long-duration flights to the moon, asteroids, or Mars). The service module’s “X-wing solar panel” design is derived from ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicle cargo ferries dispatched to the International Space Station; ESA’s commitment to Orion will replace its obligation to provide further unmanned freighters to the space station.

Arrow: Burned

ArrowThe tenth episode of Arrow, a modern-day reboot of DC Comics’ Green Arrow superhero starring Stephen Amell, airs on the CW.

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Torchwood: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

TorchwoodBBC2 premieres the 14th episode of Russell T. Davies’ science fiction series Torchwood, a more adult-themed spinoff of Doctor Who. This episode kicks off the second season, and picks up the first season’s plot thread of Jack having gone missing (via TARDIS). James Marsters (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) guest stars.

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Torchwood now streaming on HBO Max

Messenger’s first visit to Mercury

Messenger at MercuryFor the first time in over 30 years, a spacecraft from Earth flies past the innermost planet, Mercury. The Messenger space probe, launched in 2004, is due to take up an orbit around Mercury in 2011, but this first close pass – just over 120 miles above Mercury’s surface – is designed to alter its trajectory. Messenger carries little fuel, and has swooped past Earth three times and twice past Venus to use both planets’ gravity to change its heading. Two more close passes of Mercury will be needed before it finally becomes caught in the tiny planet’s orbit, where it will spend roughly a year mapping the planet’s surface and taking dozens of other measurements. The last space probe from Earth to visit Mercury was Mariner 10, which made three close passes in 1974/75. Despite the brief gravity-assist visit, Messenger captures its first 1,200 images of Mercury, including a side of the planet never before seen from Earth.

Star Trek Phase II: Come What May

Star Trek Phase IIThe internet-based fan film Star Trek: New Voyages (later Phase II) releases its first full-length episode, Come What May. Shot with homemade sets, costumes and props in upstate New York, the attention-getting project is greeted with enthusiasm by fans and with consternation by CBS/Paramount, which still has a Star Trek series (Enterprise) on television. The New Voyages group, led by James Cawley, is permitted to continue as long as no profit is made from its use of the Star Trek name, setting a precedent for future fan productions. As the group’s productions improve, it eventually disowns this pilot episode as one of its “official” adventures.

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STS-107

Space ShuttleSpace Shuttle Columbia lifts off for a scientific research mission with the SPACEHAB module – a successor to Spacelab – in its cargo bay, for a flight lasting almost 17 days. Columbia’s crew for this flight is Commander Rick Husband, Pilot Willie McCool, Payload Commander Michael Anderson, mission specialists Kalpana Chawla, David Brown and Laurel Clark, and payload specialist Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut. During liftoff, a piece of insulated foam is vibrated loose from the shuttle’s external fuel tank, causing critical damage to the leading edge of Columbia’s left wing. The foam collision is noticed and discussed internally at NASA, but is not deemed a threat by ground controllers.

Special Unit 2: The Straw

Special Unit 2UPN broadcasts the 15th episode of the supernatural crime comedy series Special Unit 2, starring Michael Landes (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman) and Alexondra Lee (Party Of Five). Jonathan Togo (CSI: Miami) guest stars.

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Dark Angel: Red

Dark AngelThe tenth episode of James Cameron & Charles H. Eglee’s cyberpunk series Dark Angel, starring Jessica Alba and Michael Weatherly, airs on Fox. John Savage and Alex Zahara (Babylon 5: Legend Of The Rangers, Jeremiah) guest star.

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The X-Files: The Amazing Maleeni

The X-FilesThe 147th episode of Chris Carter’s modern-day science fiction series The X-Files airs on Fox, starring Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. Ricky Jay guest stars.

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Voyager: The Caretaker

Star Trek: VoyagerOn its first night of broadcasting, UPN airs the two-hour first episode of Star Trek: Voyager. This is the first episode of a Star Trek series to air on a network (instead of syndication) since the early ’70s animated series. Armin Shimerman (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) guest stars.

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Star Trek: Voyager now streaming on Paramount Plus

Space Precinct: Illegal

Space PrecinctThe week-long American syndication window opens for the tenth episode of Gerry Anderson’s sci-fi police series Space Precinct. Tony Haygarth (Where The Heart Is) and Tim Matthews (Band Of Brothers) guest star in an episode written by Marc Scott Zicree.

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Space Precinct now streaming on Shout! Factory

Young Indiana Jones And The Treasure Of The Peacock’s Eye

Young Indiana Jones ChroniclesThe feature-length 30th episode of George Lucas’ historical adventure series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles airs on cable channel The Family Channel, starring Sean Patrick Flanery. Adrian Edmonson (The Young Ones) and Pip Torrens guest star.

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Chocky: Episode 2

The ChockyThe second episode of Chocky airs on Thames Television, adapting the novels of John Wyndham into a television serial starring Andrew Ellams and James Hazeldine. Read more

Voyagers!: The Trial Of Phineas Bogg

Voyagers!NBC airs the 13th episode of James D. Parriott’s time travel series Voyagers!, starring Jon-Erik Hexum and Meeno Peluce. This is primarily a clip show featuring excerpts from past episodes.

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Voyagers! now streaming on Amazon Prime

Blake’s 7: Shadow

Blake's 7BBC1 premieres the 15th episode of Terry Nation’s science fiction series Blake’s 7, the first episode of the series to be written by someone other than Nation himself. Vernon Dobtcheff guest stars.

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Blake’s 7 now streaming on Britbox

The Next Step Beyond: Possession

The Next Step BeyondThe week-long syndication window opens for the third episode of The Next Step Beyond, a revival of the 1950s/60s supernatural anthology series One Step Beyond, hosted and directed by John Newland.

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Six Million Dollar Man: Death Probe Part 2

Six Million Dollar ManThe 71st episode of The Six Million Dollar Man is broadcast on ABC, starring Lee Majors and Richard Anderson. Nehemiah Persoff, Jane Merrow, and John de Lancie guest star.

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Doctor Who: Terror Of The Autons, Part 3

Doctor WhoThe 281st episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Katy Manning makes her first appearance as the Doctor’s new companion, Jo Grant. Richard Franklin joins the cast as new UNIT regular Captain Mike Yates, and the Master makes his first appearance in the series, as played by Roger Delgado. Michael Wisher guest stars.

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The Invaders: The Pit

The InvadersThe 36th episode of Larry Cohen’s science fiction series The Invaders, starring Roy Thinnes and produced by Quinn Martin’s QM Productions, is broadcast on ABC. Joanne Linville guest stars.

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Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea: The Phantom Strikes

Voyage To The Bottom Of The SeaThe 49th episode of Irwin Allen’s adventure series Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea airs on ABC, starring Richard Basehart and David Hedison. Alfred Ryder guest stars.

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The Outer Limits: The Probe

The Outer LimitsABC airs the 49th and final episode of Leslie Stevens’ anthology series The Outer Limits. Though this ends the series’ run in the 1960s, The Outer Limits will be revived for a much longer run in the 1990s, which will include remakes of some original series episodes.

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The Outer Limits now streaming on Amazon Prime

Doctor Who: The Slave Traders

Doctor WhoThe 54th episode of Doctor Who airs on the BBC. This is part one of the story now collectively known as The Romans.

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Adventures Of Superman: Semi-Private Eye

The Adventures Of SupermanThe 44th episode of The Adventures Of Superman airs in syndication, starring George Reeves, Noel Neill, and Jack Larson. Elisha Cook Jr. and Paul Fix guest star.

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Adventures of Superman now streaming on Amazon Prime

Tales Of Tomorrow: Discovered Heart

Tales Of TomorrowThe 65th episode of the science fiction anthology series Tales Of Tomorrow airs on ABC. Much of the second season is missing, including this episode.

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