Old time radio: BBC rebroadcasts Journey Into Space: The Red Planet

Starting on Monday, April 13, 2009, and continuing for several days, BBC Radio 7 will rebroadcast The Red Planet, the second series in Journey Into Space, a classic science fiction radio program written and produced in the 1950s by BBC's Charles Chilton. Originally broadcast over several months from September 1954 to January 1955, The Red Planet consists of 20 episodes set in the late 20th century and stars actor Andrew Faulds as Captain Andrew “Jet” Morgan.

Check BBC 7’s website for specific dates and times of the live rebroadcast of The Red Planet. The best opportunity to listen to the rebroadcast might be through BBC's "Listen Again" feature, which makes programs available for about a week after they are aired.

Here are descriptions of the first six of the 20 episodes of The Red Planet, taken directly from BBC Radio 7’s website:

• Episode 1. “Captain Jet Morgan and his crew commence their 1971 mission to Mars, but there's a problem.”

• Episode 2. “Captain Jet Morgan is bound for Mars, but one of his crew has been cast adrift in space.”

• Episode 3. “Whitaker is behaving strangely, as bad dreams plague the crew on their mission to Mars.”

• Episode 4. “The mystery over Whitaker deepens, as tragedy strikes on board one of the Mars freighters.”

• Episode 5. “With communications to Earth lost, Jet Morgan's courage is tested during a meteor swarm.”

• Episode 6. “Captain Jet Morgan and his crew receive warnings to turn back - but who is sending them?”