Unsolved mystery

[kengr]

Twenty years ago today, the Jupiter II was launched towards alpha Centauri. Shortly after launch it went off course and encountered a meteor storm. It's fate after that is still unknown.

Lost were pilot Major Don Weest, Dr John Robinson, his wife Dr. Maureen Robinson, their children Judy, Penny and Will.

Speculation as to the cause of the course deviation had led to several theories. One that seems most probable in light of certain records recovered by scholars after the fall of several European governments suggest that the most likely is that Dr. Zachary Smith, now known to have been an enemy agent had been trying to sabotage the ship and had somehow remained aboard when it launched.

Comments

[stickmaker]

I saw this first-run in the Sixties.

I still like most of the first season I still like some of the later episodes. If you view them as science fantasy (fantasy stories - often morality plays - set in a futuristic background) they work very well.

I do wish they had stayed on Preplanis and explored some of the mysteries presented in the first season.

[kengr]

I saw it first run as well. But even at my age Dr. Smith was getting hard to take.

I'd love to see what would have happened in an alternate universe where they had someone else playing Dr. Smith.

[stickmaker]

Or if they had just gone with the original - not available until years later - pilot.

The Robinsons abandon the _Gemini 12_ because of the increasing cold, move south and explore the planet in the Chariot, uncovering signs of an ancient civilization wiped out by war. This would explain the devastation of the planet - possibly even that eccentric orbit - and why the original inhabitants had to move underground. Also, all those strange lifeforms were from a "salting the earth" ploy by the victors in the war, to try and ensure the inhabitants could never raise an army again.