Title
Probe 7, Over and Out
Subject
Science fiction television series
anthology
outer space--drama
Science fiction--Television Series
Description
"Probe 7, Over and Out" is one of the final episodes in The Twilight Zone to feature space explorers. Originally aired November 29, 1963, this episode's plot is focused on an astronaut, Adam Cooke, who crash landed on a planet far from his home. As a result of the crash landing, Cooke sustained several injuries and the ship was damaged far beyond repair. His only advantage is he still has contact with mission control at the beginning of the episode. Even though the ship crash landed, it depicts space travel in a successful light, since the rocket made it to another planet.
"Probe 7, Over and Out" is a later Twilight Zone episode; however, it does not portray children as space explores. Rather, military men are portrayed as astronauts like several other Twilight Zone episode dealing with space exploration. The portrayal of the struggles Cooke faced seems to indirectly discourage space travel by others beside able bodied military men. In this episode, space exploration is suggested as being dangerous because of the inability to receive help when stranded in space and the psychological toll of perceived loneliness.
A major danger of space exploration depicted in this episode is the inability to receive help in a time of distress by mission control. In the opening scene, the viewer is told and shown that the ship has crash landed and is completely inoperable of ever flying again. At the same time, Cooke reveals the physical damage he sustained, which included a broken arm and cracked ribs. While Cooke is still able to communicate with mission control, it is apparent they cannot help him. Their communications consist of constant suggestion by General Larabee to repair the ship even though Cooke continuously tells him repair is impossible. Eventually Larabee reveals to Cooke that he reached a point of no return in space and no one could come to his aid. As a result, he is told to make do and see if he can repair the ship. The danger of space travel revealed in the communications between Larabee and Cooke, as one can see, is the possibility of being stranded in space with no help.
As a result of Cooke being stranded on a distant planet with no help, it reveals the second danger of space travel, the psychological battle of loneliness. This danger is best summed up in Rod Sterling's narration recounting the situation Cooke is faced to accept. According to Sterling "he [Cooke] must give battle to loneliness." Also, during the final conversation between Larabee and Cooke, Cooke indicates his struggle with loneliness. After telling Cooke that nuclear war broke out at home, Larbee tells Cooke that he reached a haven and wished more had gone with him. In response Cooke states, "what you think of as a haven is a very dark dungeon...don't care much for solitary confinement." From these two narratives it suggests space can be a very lonely place without much help or comfort during a time of need. Therefore, space exploration, as suggested by this episode, can have a psychological risk factor associated with it because of the battle one must face with loneliness.
With the possibility of being stranded in space and the depiction of space travel as a psychological strain, the viewer is left with the sense that space exploration, while now capable, is still full of risks. Some of these risks are difficult for even a strong military man to combat. With these risks being hard for a specially trained astronaut to overcome, it is likely a child would have an even more difficult time coping with these risks. Therefore, this episode seems to implicitly gives its viewers strong evidence against putting a child in space.
"Probe 7, Over and Out" is a later Twilight Zone episode; however, it does not portray children as space explores. Rather, military men are portrayed as astronauts like several other Twilight Zone episode dealing with space exploration. The portrayal of the struggles Cooke faced seems to indirectly discourage space travel by others beside able bodied military men. In this episode, space exploration is suggested as being dangerous because of the inability to receive help when stranded in space and the psychological toll of perceived loneliness.
A major danger of space exploration depicted in this episode is the inability to receive help in a time of distress by mission control. In the opening scene, the viewer is told and shown that the ship has crash landed and is completely inoperable of ever flying again. At the same time, Cooke reveals the physical damage he sustained, which included a broken arm and cracked ribs. While Cooke is still able to communicate with mission control, it is apparent they cannot help him. Their communications consist of constant suggestion by General Larabee to repair the ship even though Cooke continuously tells him repair is impossible. Eventually Larabee reveals to Cooke that he reached a point of no return in space and no one could come to his aid. As a result, he is told to make do and see if he can repair the ship. The danger of space travel revealed in the communications between Larabee and Cooke, as one can see, is the possibility of being stranded in space with no help.
As a result of Cooke being stranded on a distant planet with no help, it reveals the second danger of space travel, the psychological battle of loneliness. This danger is best summed up in Rod Sterling's narration recounting the situation Cooke is faced to accept. According to Sterling "he [Cooke] must give battle to loneliness." Also, during the final conversation between Larabee and Cooke, Cooke indicates his struggle with loneliness. After telling Cooke that nuclear war broke out at home, Larbee tells Cooke that he reached a haven and wished more had gone with him. In response Cooke states, "what you think of as a haven is a very dark dungeon...don't care much for solitary confinement." From these two narratives it suggests space can be a very lonely place without much help or comfort during a time of need. Therefore, space exploration, as suggested by this episode, can have a psychological risk factor associated with it because of the battle one must face with loneliness.
With the possibility of being stranded in space and the depiction of space travel as a psychological strain, the viewer is left with the sense that space exploration, while now capable, is still full of risks. Some of these risks are difficult for even a strong military man to combat. With these risks being hard for a specially trained astronaut to overcome, it is likely a child would have an even more difficult time coping with these risks. Therefore, this episode seems to implicitly gives its viewers strong evidence against putting a child in space.
Creator
Sterling, Rod
Director: Post, Ted
Source
The Twilight Zone: season 5
Publisher
CBS DVD:
Distributed exclusively by Image Entertainment.
Date
1963-11-29
Contributor
Olle Larson
Rights
CBS Studios
Fair Use
Relation
"Probe 7, Over and Out is the ninth episode in The Twilight Zone season five
Format
jpeg
Language
English
Type
Still Image
Identifier
LC: PN1992.77
Dewey: 791.45/75
Coverage
1963
United States of America
Original Format
Still image from a scene in the Twilight Zone episode "Probe 7, Over and Out." Cooke, in this scene, is leaving his crashed rocket to explore the area. The rocket, as one can see, appears to have crash landed. Cook, in this image, appears to be injured with his arm in a sling.
Physical Dimensions
10.89 by 8.19 inches