You might think that the revival of the 1950s radio classic Journey into Space was a desperate move by Radio Four to cash in on the success of the new Dr Who. Even the title sounds incredibly dated. Who now cares about space? But when the serial first hit the airwaves via the Light Programme, millions were immediately drawn in to the adventures of Captain Jet Morgan and his ‘stratoship’, and it became compulsive listening, not just in the UK. Journey into Space tapped into something, a feeling, a spirit, a quest, which sent its vibrations around the world (the programme was translated into 17 languages).
Space exploration was then believed to be the Great Hope for mankind after the devastation of two world wars. The vast universe beyond our besmirched planet was innocent territory, a new adventure playground on a massive scale, an infinite opportunity into which could be poured all the volatile energy and technological invention that otherwise, it was feared, would be turned back into yet more military endeavour.
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