Satellite Seven

SATELLITE SEVEN is a radio play, in 8 15-minute parts, presented by the British Broadcasting Corporation. The play, as it's referred to by the BBC's announcer, is part science fiction, part mystery, part spy tale and part adventure. It revolves around a British space mission to be the first to photograph the far side of the moon and a spy's mission to sabotage the project. On 4 October, 1959, the Soviet Union sent a satellite into orbit around the moon, photographing, for the first time, the far side of the moon, changing science fiction to science fact. The show was apparently aimed at a juvenile audience. The main story is told by a 15-year old teenage boy and deals with his view of the happenings. Despite this, and despite the fact that the material is dated (note the year of broadcast), the series is well done and an interesting listen. It may be of interest to introducing youngsters to audio drama, especially with the short episodes and narration by someone their own age.