A 1962 televised cartoon series , 'The Jetsons', could be called a seed for television programmes in the science fiction genre. Made in colour, 'The Jetsons' explored every future technological option that society might face and use in it's social structure. Later, in 1965, the early black and white episodes of 'Lost in Space' were put to air in America, before migrating to New Zealand and Australia. Avid followers watched the use of communication devices, teleportation, space blankets, silver insulation fabric and velcro. I am sorry to say this but I grew up with life on the Jupiter 2, not 'Neighbours'. It was fantastic.
During the same year, the British went one step further and brought us the 'Thunderbirds'. The concept was based on an international rescue team formed by an ex-astronaut... this was a hybrid formulation created as a result of the making of early comics, film and sci-fi programmes.
Each series had it's own individual format, using notions of space travel and NASA for reference. Man hadn't yet landed on the moon*. These programmes then seeded spin-offs and rival programmes such as 'Star Trek', becoming the reference for narrative and space culture used in entertainment on T.V.
Dheborah.
(*Age signifier)
