Fireball XL5 is a science fiction-themed children's television show following the missions of spaceship Fireball XL5, commanded by Colonel Steve Zodiac of the World Space Patrol. The show was produced in 1962 by husband and wife team Gerry and Sylvia Anderson through their company APF, in association with ATV for ITC Entertainment. While developing his new show, Anderson thought a brand of motor oil—Castrol XL—had an interesting sound. A phonetic change created the name "Fireball XL", with the "-5" added as the title seemed a bit flat without the numeral. The show featured the Andersons' Supermarionation, a form of puppetry first introduced in Four Feather Falls and Supercar and used again in their subsequent productions such as Stingray and Captain Scarlet. Thirty-nine black and white half-hour episodes of Fireball XL5 were made on 35mm film: all future Anderson series were produced in colour. Several Anderson series have been shown in syndication in the US, but Fireball XL5 is the only Anderson series to have run on a US network. NBC ran the series in its Saturday morning children's block from 1963 through to September 1965. A similar programme often confused with Fireball XL5 is Space Patrol, produced by Gerry Anderson's ex business partner and co-founder of AP Films, Arthur Provis due to a number of similarities and settings.
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Air Date: 1962-10-28
After intercepting a missile on course for earth, Steve Zodiac and the crew of the XL5 travel to Planet 46 and discov...
Air Date: 1962-11-04
The Fireball XL5 narrowly misses a planet that bas broken out of it's orbit and realize the planet is on a collision ...
Air Date: 1962-11-11
Venus and Prof. Matic are about to set off in the Mayflower 3 to colonise the nearby planet, New Earth. But the Advan...
Air Date: 1962-11-18
After a blackout at Space City, a missile gets through the radar blackout, and is heading towards Space City with a d...
Air Date: 1962-11-25
The crew of XL5 encounter Boris and Griselda the space pirates on the Companion 12 space station.
Air Date: 1962-12-02
When experimenting with a new warhead in space, Steve Zodiac is forced to save Venus from the clutches from the sinis...
Air Date: 1962-12-09
Everyone on planet Zolpheid is killed in an Aquaphibian attack, except for Rald and Jerek. Receiving an SOS, Space Ci...
Air Date: 1962-12-16
While babysitting Commander Zero's son, Jonathan, Venus tells him story about when Fireball XL5 encountered a group o...
Air Date: 1962-12-23
As Steve celebrates the anniversary of his family's circus act, Venus falls asleep and dreams of a plot devised by Mr...
Air Date: 1962-12-30
To capture a group on criminals, Steve, Matt and Venus pretend to steal XL5.
Air Date: 1962-01-06
Fireball XL2 has crashed on Planet Monotane, and Fireball XL5 is sent to investigate, only to run into a sort of spac...
Air Date: 1963-01-13
Major Jim Ireland returns to Earth after 10 years in space, but unknown to everyone, he has become an agent for Kudos...
Air Date: 1963-01-20
The Fireball XL5 foils an attempted bombing while transporting the King of Platonia and is caught in the middle of th...
Air Date: 1963-01-27
After detecting a series of massive explosions in space, Steve and the crew of XL5 find a planet three times bigger t...
Air Date: 1963-02-03
On Planet 46, the Subterraineans plan revenge on Zodiac and send a robot bird to infect him with radium.
Air Date: 1963-02-10
After top secret plans are stolen from Earth, XL5 enocunters Boris and Griselda, but Matt is captured.
Air Date: 1963-02-17
Kernak, ruler of Kemple plots the resettlement of his people to Planet Olympus by poisoning Olympus' ruler's son. Ven...
Air Date: 1963-02-24
Lt. 90 qualifies for his astronauts wings by landing XL5 in one piece and then piloting XL1 off the launch rail, but ...
Air Date: 1963-03-03
Fireball XL5 recieves a distress call on a distant planet, and Steve Zodiac journeys to investigate.
Air Date: 1963-03-10
At Space Observatory 1, Matt and Dr. Stamp work on a new Ultrascope space probe. However, the people of the planet th...
Air Date: 1963-03-17
While stargazing, Prof. Matic discovers a new planet, but it doesn't read on any electronic instruments. Curious, Ste...
Air Date: 1963-03-24
On a survey of Pharos, the crew of XL5 disocver the planet is unstable and must be destroyed. After setting up bombs,...
Air Date: 1963-03-31
Whilst on patrol, the XL5 comes across the wreck of an old spaceship. Setting out to investigate, they find it to be ...
Air Date: 1963-04-07
With Steve and Venus on vacation, Commander Zero is left to look after Zoonie the Lazoon, who causes havoc in Space C...
Air Date: 1963-04-14
Matt completes his new time machine and sends Robert back to 1875, but Steve, Venus and Zero are accidently sent back...
Air Date: 1963-04-21
On Planet 73, two scientists working at a mineral research lab discover that they in the path of six tanks controlled...
Air Date: 1963-04-28
Robot freighters are being sabotaged by a shoddy space salvage company, and Steve Zodiac is determined to find the pr...
Air Date: 1963-05-05
On planet Floran, the crew of XL5 try to discover what is killing the plants there, however the native people believe...
Air Date: 1963-05-12
A mechanics professor is giving a lecture on robotics at Space City. But barely a few days after his visit, Robert su...
Air Date: 1963-05-19
While drawing a schematic for a new radar screen, Lt. Ninety is surprised to find himself promoted to the rank of Gen...
Air Date: 1963-05-26
There is a strange fog descending on Space City, blocking out communications with the rest of the outside world. But ...
Air Date: 1963-06-02
While on route to Space Station 9, Steve loses control of XL5. Racing out of control, XL5 passes the light barrier re...
Air Date: 1963-06-09
XL27 makes an emergency landing at Space City and the crew are all found to be unconcious. XL27's route is traced bac...
Air Date: 1963-06-16
Blazing fireballs from a space cloud cause widespread damage on Earth. XL5 is sent to investigate but it catches fire...
Air Date: 1963-06-23
General Rossiter comes to Space City to present Steve with the Astronaut of the Year award. XL5 and the ground staff ...
Air Date: 1963-10-06
XL5 transports Geologist Frazer to Electron for a survey. When Frazer discovers a strange rock in a deserted town, he...
Air Date: 1963-10-13
The crew of the XL5 becomes entranced by a strange alien sphere and Robert is the only one who can save the crew.
Air Date: 1963-10-20
On patrol, Fireball XL5 suddenly catches fire. The cause, sabotage! Commander Zero sends Light Patrol LP22 to investi...
Air Date: 1963-10-27
The XL5 becomes caught in the gravitational pull of planet Megneton and discovers the plot by the Solars to bring the...