australian television information archive

Disaster

Episode 1
Int: Sun, Apr 10, 1994 (Family Channel)
Aus: Sat, Nov 26, 1994 (ABC)
UK: Thu, May 11, 1995 (BBC)
Written by: David Ogilvy, John Patterson
Directed by: Kate Woods

Kumiko, a young computer whiz, is mortified when her planned holiday on Earth is postponed, after her parents are urgently summoned to the mining colony on Jupiter's moon Io to assess a new drilling program.

Cast: Steve Bisley as Duffy, Arthur Dignam as Professor Ingessol, Daniel Taylor as Michael, Justin Rosniak as Gerard, Anna Choy as Kumiko, Abraham Forsythe as Kingston Robyn MacKenzie as Anna, Ken Radley as Sam, Linden Wilkinson as Beth, Ivar Kants as Karl, Anne Tenney as Helen, Saemi Baba as Akiko, Kazuhiro Muroyama as Tatsuya, Fiona Stewart as Celia, Russell Kiefel as Gilbert [ep 13 only], Sally Cahill as P.J. [ep 13 only], Daniel Taylor as Michael

Note: the above cast list is used at the end of every episode regardless of who is in the episode so I won't bother repeating it for the rest of the episodes in the guide (I have also left in the extra credit for Daniel Taylor).

Trapped

Episode 2
Int: Sun, Apr 17, 1994
Aus: Sat, December 03, 1994
UK: Thu, May 18, 1995
W: David Ogilvy, John Patterson
D: Kate Woods

The colony on Io is thrown into chaos as lava flows explode through the mining tunnels and the colony is hit by fierce tremors, destroying many of the life support domes. Michael, Gerard, and Kumiko must make a dangerous journey to escape the collapsed tunnels.

Life Boat

Episode 3
Int: Sun, Apr 24, 1994
Aus: Sat, December 10, 1994
UK: Thu, May 25, 1995
W: David Ogilvy, John Patterson
D: Kate Woods

While the adults assess the damage to the colony and stabilise the remaining life support domes, the children rescue their precious belongings and assist with salvage operations. For the moment, it appears that they are safe.

In the Nick of Time

Episode 4
Int: Sun, May 01, 1994
Aus: Sat, December 17, 1994
UK: Thu, June 01, 1995
W: David Ogilvy, John Patterson
D: Kate Woods

As the colonists frantically prepare to evacuate to the space station KL5, and while in the care of Kumiko, Anna and Kingston decide to sneak off into restricted quarters. It is their intention to retrieve their precious personal belongings — Anna's toy dinosaur, Ronald, and Kingston's remote control robot, ZIT.

Blast off

Episode 5
Int: Sun, May 08, 1994
Aus: Sat, December 31, 1994
UK: Thu, June 08, 1995
W: David Ogilvy, John Patterson
D: Kate Woods

The colonists are safe on board the derelict space station, and begin the difficult task of ensuring life support systems are fully functional. Kingston, the tunnel rat, is quick to explore his new home, while old rivalries begin to emerge between Michael and Gerard, as Michael is put in charge of rejuvenating the all-important and life-sustaining hydroponics laboratory.

Temporary Relief

Episode 6
Int: Sun, May 15, 1994
Aus: Sat, January 14, 1995
UK: Thu, June 15, 1995
W: David Ogilvy, John Patterson
D: Fumitaka Tamura

As KL5 continues toward Earth, Kingston is flabbergasted when his mother and his friends commit a gross oversight. It is a special day, and everyone seems to have forgotten. But his mother, Helen, the senior medical officer, is distracted from Kingston's attention-seeking exploits, when Gerard's father, Karl, is injured while working in one of the machinery bays. An inexplicable computer fault is found to be the cause of the accident.

Stake out

Episode 7
Int: Sun, May 22, 1994
Aus: Sat, January 21, 1995
UK: Thu, June 22, 1995
W: David Ogilvy
D: Kate Woods

As the adults prepare KL5 for an elaborate fly-by manoeuvre around Saturn to rendezvous with an ore carrier and replenish the station's depleted fuel reserves, the kids are rapidly becoming bored by their long-term confinement on the station.

Fitness Test

Episode 8
Int: Sun, May 29, 1994
Aus: Sat, January 28, 1995
UK: Thu, June 29, 1995
W: David Ogilvy, John Patterson
D: Kate Woods

The rivalry between Michael and Gerard finally reaches a head when Duffy institutes a health check. Kumiko seizes the opportunity and challenges the boys to settle their rivalry once and for all. She suggests a race — a test of endurance, fitness and skill.

Asteroids

Episode 9
Int: Sun, Jun 05, 1994
Aus: Sat, February 04, 1995
UK: Thu, July 07, 1995
W: David Ogilvy, Martin Daley
D: Fumitaka Tamura

As KL5 continues on its journey toward Earth, the station is put on alert as it flies toward the asteroid belt. Kingston is mortified, believing that they are all about to come to a sticky end. Nonetheless, he agrees to accompany Anna to a remote observation tower to watch for the approaching "vermin of the skies".

Christmas

Episode 10
Int: Sun, Jun 12, 1994
Aus: Sat, February 11, 1995
UK: Thu, July 14, 1995
W: David Ogilvy, Martin Daley
D: Kate Woods

Kingston and Anna are excited by the approach of Christmas. But, as the adults are preoccupied frantically preparing for the rendezvous with the automated ore carrier to replenish fuel reserves, Duffy decides to postpone all Christmas celebrations.

Decoy

Episode 11
Int: Sun, Jun 19, 1994
Aus: Sat, February 18, 1995
UK: Thu, July 21, 1995
W: David Ogilvy
D: Fumitaka Tamura

As KL5 nears the end of its journey, Michael and Kumiko's relationship has strengthened, and the two appear to become affectionate. Kingston witnesses their affection, and after he is threatened with retribution for his spying ways, he decides to give Michael and Kumiko a hard time.

Misfire

Episode 12
Int: Sun, Jun 26, 1994
Aus: Sat, February 25, 1995
UK: Thu, July 28, 1995
W: David Ogilvy
D: Kate Woods

As the colonists stabilise the station after the last explosion, they discover (to their horror) that they have lost their remaining fuel reserves. All that remains is a limited supply on board the space tug.

Rescue

Episode 13
Int: Sun, Jul 03, 1994
Aus: Sat, March 11, 1995
W: David Ogilvy, Martin Daley
D: Kate Woods

As KL5 continues toward the sun — and imminent disaster — the adults decide that the children should be loaded into the space tug and given one final chance of survival. Since Sam is still seriously injured, Michael is given the responsibility of piloting the space tug.