MainMission:2000 A Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of “Space: 1999”
“To Everything That Was”
On September 13, 1999, a totally unforeseen accident on the lunar surface caused a massive nuclear explosion at Nuclear Waste Disposal Area 2, throwing the moon out of earth orbit and off into space with 311 men and women trapped on Moonbase Alpha. This was the premise of my favorite TV show when I was a kid, Space: 1999. One year later, in an alternate universe, about 300 fans of Space: 1999 gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their favorite show along with members of its cast and production team. I had the honor of attending through the Operation Helping Hand program. This was my first time in New York City, and it’s amazing how little I saw of the city. While I was within walking distance of Times Square, Rockefeller Center and Central Park, I seldom strayed out of the hotel unless on a quest for a reasonably priced meal (something very hard to find in the Big Apple). But there was more than enough going on in the hotel to make for one of the best weekends of my life. It was here I got to meet stars of my favorite TV show like Barry Morse, Catherine Schell, Zienia Merton, Prentis Hancock and John Hug, as well as writers Johnny Byrne and Christopher Penfold, and production designer Keith Wilson. Also in attendance were Richard Hatch and Jack Stauffer from Battlestar Galactica. Jack gave a less-than-memorable cabaret performance at the closing ceremonies. There was also Corinne Orr, the voice of Trixie and Spritle on Speed Racer as well as the voice behind “Snuggles” the bear. Then there was Star Trek’s Grace Lee Whitney, who I regret to say I did not get along very well with, but that’s a different story.
SPECIAL FEATURES
ALPHA CHRONICLE EXCLUSIVE [Interview with Catherine Schell] Catherine appeared in the first season episode “Guardian of Piri” and was later cast in the role of Maya, a shape-shifting alien who was a regular during the second season of Space: 1999. This was her first appearance at a science fiction convention, where she was interviewed by John Kenneth Muir, author of Exploring Space: 1999.
PICTURES WITH THE STARS
Barry Morse	Catherine Schell	Prentis Hancock	Zienia Merton
WRITERS AND STAFF
Keith Wilson Designer	Johnny Byrne Writer	Johnny and Keith and their adoring fans
MEMORIES
Space Dance	Dr. Phil Plait Bad Astronomy	“Who do I — to get off this picture?”	Barry Eats!
John Hug	A Reunion	Surprise	Tom & Catherine
Sunday Night	Partying with Johnny	Phil & Johnny	Our Best Helena Impression
DESTINATION MOONBASE ALPHA
Costumes	Alphan Room	More Costumes
	MODELS EXHIBIT
	Eagle	Super Swift	Moonbase Alpha
THE FANS: THE REAL STARS OF THE SHOW
At The Dance	Chris & Mark	GBA	Roomies
Al & Carl	Eston	David	Tim & Eston
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Original images ©2000 by Matt Butts MainMission:2000 ©2000 UnitedVision, Inc. Space: 1999 ©1975 Carlton International Entertainment An ITC Production created by Gerry & Sylvia Anderson