Gerry Anderson Encyclopedia
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What Goes Up is the 5th produced, and the 4th broadcast, episode of the British television series Supercar.

Plot[]

After a dangerous canister in Earth’s atmosphere fails to explode as planned, it's up to Supercar to destroy it.

Synopsis[]

At the base in Nevada, a man called Colonel Lewis has asked Mike, Dr Beaker and Professor Popkiss to assist in an American Air Force project called “The Fourth of July” - an apt designation, because it involves a large explosion.

The Air Force has a balloon up in the atmosphere, carrying a canister full of the Air Force’s new fuel, which is a highly-explosive substance.

Because of this, it's too dangerous just to bring the cannister back down again. The slightest touch could cause the fuel to explode. So they intend to explode it in the atmosphere.

Dr. Beaker has the detonation button on his desk. They begin the count-down: ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one...

At zero, he presses the button. But nothing happens - no detonation!

The only way to destroy the balloon now, everyone decides, is to send Supercar - with a special missile-launcher mounted on it - up into space, where Mike will be able to fire a missile, destroying the balloon.

Mike must first take in some considerations, though. Since the fuel will cause a very big bang when the missile hits the canister, he'll have to launch it at two-thousand miles. He must also take measures to protect himself, wearing a special suit to deflect the considerable amount of radiation unleashed by the explosion...

All preparations completed, he and Supercar at last set off on their dangerous journey. Once in the area of the errant balloon, he decides to go in even closer. Given the stakes, he simply cannot miss - and miss he doesn't, firing the missile and destroying the balloon!

Cast[]

Regular Cast[]

Guest Cast[]

Continuity[]

  • When the tracking stations report in for the second time, both South Dakota and Patterson Field are voiced by George Murcell instead of David Graham.
  • A volatile fuel - dangerous to anyone around it - also features in the episode Keep It Cool.
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