| Genre: | Science fiction, soap opera |
| Creator: | William Smethurst |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
| Num Episodes: | 150 |
| Producer: | William Smethurst |
| Runtime: | 24 minutes |
| Company: | Primetime-Andromeda in association with BSB |
| Network: | Galaxy Sci Fi Channel |
| Last Aired: | and 22 January – 19 February 1996 |
Jupiter Moon is a science fiction soap opera television series first broadcast by British Satellite Broadcasting's Galaxy channel in 1990. 150 episodes were commissioned and made, but only the first 108 were broadcast before the closure of BSB. Episodes 109–150 were first shown in the UK on the Sci Fi Channel in 1996.
The series is set in the year 2050 and concentrates on the spaceship Ilea in semi-permanent orbit above the space city on Jupiter's moon Callisto. The Ilea is home to a university and many of the programme's main plot strands revolve around the lives of the students, helping the programme to deal with more mundane issues despite its far-flung setting. A secondary plot deals with an attempt to travel to the stars known as the Daedalus Project.
The cast included:[1]
The series was created and produced by William Smethurst, a former long-standing editor of British radio soap The Archers and was recorded at the studios of Central Television in Birmingham. Many of the cast and writers also came from The Archers.
The budget was £6m for 150 episodes.
Dr Bob Parkinson of British Aerospace designed the spaceship Ilea using European Space Agency/NASA projections.
It was a Primetime-Andromeda Production in association with BSB.[2]
The space station Ilea was named after the then-recently abolished Inner London Education Authority.[3] The character Phillipe Gervais was named after associate producer Jane Fallon's partner Ricky Gervais.[4]
Jupiter Moon was commissioned to fulfill the perceived need for a soap opera in British Satellite Broadcasting's line-up and, as such, it was shown three times a week (on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6.30pm), with an omnibus edition at weekends on BSB's Galaxy channel from 26 March until 30 November 1990. 150 episodes were commissioned and made, but only the first 108 were broadcast by BSB. The series was curtailed owing to the merger between BSB and Sky Television plc and the subsequent cessation of the Galaxy channel. Sky was unable to continue the broadcast of the series, as, unlike BSB, Sky's transmission area covered various European territories where Jupiter Moon was already being shown. The later episodes were eventually shown in the UK on the Sci Fi Channel between 22 January and 19 February 1996, as part of a complete run of the series.
The programme was also broadcast by television channels in countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Greece, Jamaica, Zambia, Gibraltar and several of the Gulf States.[5]
The soap was screened on GBC TV (Gibraltar television) ahead of its premiere on BSB's own Galaxy channel. The soap was seen in the British Overseas Territory every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 7.30 pm, having taken the slot formerly occupied by EastEnders which had become too expensive for GBC TV.
The first UK broadcast of episodes 1–108 was on BSB's Galaxy channel in 1990.[6] [7] [8] [9]
| No. | UK airdate | Writer | Synopsis | UK DVD | US DVD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume 1: The New Frontier | ||||||
| 1 | Monday 26 March 1990 | William Smethurst | The staff and students prepare for New Year's Eve 2049. | 1 | 1 | |
| 2 | Wednesday 28 March 1990 | William Smethurst | Gantry 4 is put into quarantine. | 1 | 1 | |
| 3 | Friday 30 March 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | Finbow thinks he has found a black hole. | 1 | 1 | |
| 4 | Monday 2 April 1990 | Helen Leadbeater | Finbow tries to locate the abnormality. | 1 | 1 | |
| 5 | Wednesday 4 April 1990 | Margaret Phelan | Victoria plans to leave. | 1 | 1 | |
| 6 | Friday 6 April 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | All communication is lost, preventing Finbow contacting the Valencia. | 1 | 1 | |
| 7 | Monday 9 April 1990 | Helen Leadbeater | There is a strange signal coming from an airlock. | 1 | 1 | |
| 8 | Wednesday 11 April 1990 | Helen Leadbeater | Alex Hartman arrives. | 1 | 1 | |
| 9 | Friday 13 April 1990 | Margaret Phelan | Finbow thinks something is eating through the shields. | 1 | 1 | |
| 10 | Monday 16 April 1990 | Margaret Phelan | Finbow thinks the Ilea is under attack. | 1 | 1 | |
| 11 | Wednesday 18 April 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | James gets into trouble on an EVA. | 1 | 1 | |
| 12 | Friday 20 April 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | Naiad 10 is evacuated. | 1 | 1 | |
| 13 | Monday 23 April 1990 | Helen Leadbeater | The ship is in danger of running out of air. | 2 | 1 | |
| 14 | Wednesday 25 April 1990 | Margaret Phelan | Alex plans to steal the command module. | 2 | 1 | |
| 15 | Friday 27 April 1990 | Robert Smith | Eliot and Mercedes try to fix Petra by erasing some files. | 2 | 1 | |
| 16 | Monday 30 April 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | The Ilea is caught up a cloud of plasma and gas. | 2 | 1 | |
| 17 | Wednesday 2 May 1990 | Nick Warburton | Rosie tries to get Tim to override Petra. | 2 | 1 | |
| 18 | Friday 4 May 1990 | Diana Souhami | The ventilation system is restored. | 2 | 1 | |
| 19 | Monday 7 May 1990 | Margaret Phelan | Eliot refuses to re-take command. | 2 | 1 | |
| 20 | Wednesday 9 May 1990 | Margaret Phelan | The Ilea comes through the cloud. | 2 | 1 | |
| 21 | Friday 11 May 1990 | Charles Hodges | Contact is made with Space City. | 3 | 1 | |
| 22 | Monday 14 May 1990 | Joanne Maguire | Everyone is excited to be returning to Callisto. | 3 | 1 | |
| 23 | Wednesday 16 May 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | Finbow is charged with mutiny. | 3 | 1 | |
| 24 | Friday 18 May 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | The Ilea arrives at Space Harbour. | 3 | 1 | |
| 25 | Monday 21 May 1990 | Andy Rashleigh | Eliot plans to share any blame with Finbow. | 3 | 1 | |
| 26 | Wednesday 23 May 1990 | Joanne Maguire | Herlinde plans a smear campaign against Eliot. | 3 | 1 | |
| 27 | Friday 25 May 1990 | Nick Warburton | Harriet fails to join the board of inquiry into the mutiny. | 3 | 1 | |
| 28 | Monday 28 May 1990 | Veronica Rumble | Harriet tries to persuade Jean-François to go to Mars. | 3 | 1 | |
| 29 | Wednesday 30 May 1990 | Margaret Phelan | Tim has problems with a restricted file. | 3 | 1 | |
| 30 | Friday 1 June 1990. | Graham Harvey | Brelan wants the Ilea's upper stage. | 3 | 1 | |
| 31 | Monday 4 June 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | The Ilea is about to be dismantled. | 4 | 1 | |
| 32 | Wednesday 6 June 1990. | Diana Souhami | Eliot and Finbow are back in charge. | 4 | 1 | |
| 33 | Friday 8 June 1990 | Charles Hodges | Harriet is angry that students are missing lectures. | 4 | 1 | |
| 34 | Monday 11 June 1990 | Margaret Phelan | Brelan tells James the truth about the 2016 Mars mission. | 4 | 1 | |
| 35 | Wednesday 13 June 1990 | Margaret Phelan | Brelan wants to use the Ilea to help scan Amalthea. | 4 | 1 | |
| 36 | Friday 15 June 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | The Ilea is transferred to Daedalus Command. | 5 | 1 | |
| Volume 2: The Pirates of Leda | ||||||
| 37 | Monday 18 June 1990 | Steve May | The Ilea heads to Amalthea. | 5 | 2 | |
| 38 | Wednesday 20 June 1990 | Nick Warburton | Finbow realises a spacesuit is sending the mayday. | 5 | 2 | |
| 39 | Friday 22 June 1990 | Joanne Maguire | Radiation leaks into the dome. | 5 | 2 | |
| 40 | Monday 25 June 1990 | Diana Souhami | The Ilea is caught in a sulphur storm. | 5 | 2 | |
| 41 | Wednesday 27 June 1990 | Diana Souhami | The crew tries to dock with the Copernicus. | 6 | 2 | |
| 42 | Friday 29 June 1990 | Graham Harvey | Docking attempts fail. | 6 | 2 | |
| 43 | Monday 2 July 1990 | Nicholas McInerny | Cats reaches the Copernicus and finds it badly damaged. | 6 | 2 | |
| 44 | Wednesday 4 July 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | Cats reaches the surviving crewman. | 6 | 2 | |
| 45 | Friday 6 July 1990 | Margaret Phelan | The crewman tells the story of the Copernicus. | 6 | 2 | |
| 46 | Monday 9 July 1990 | Margaret Phelan | The Ilea leaves Amalthea. | 7 | 2 | |
| 47 | Wednesday 11 July 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | Herlinde is warned off Alex. | 7 | 2 | |
| 48 | Friday 13 July 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | Rebecca starts her new job as bursar. | 7 | 2 | |
| 49 | Monday 16 July 1990 | Joanne Maguire | Melody decides to pursue her singing career. | 7 | 2 | |
| 50 | Wednesday 18 July 1990 | Joanne Maguire | Eliot looks for a new job. | 7 | 2 | |
| 51 | Friday 20 July 1990 | Nick Warburton | Brelan tells Tim he can join Daedalus. | 8 | 2 | |
| 52 | Monday 23 July 1990 | Graham Harvey | An allergy may stop Tim going to Mars. | 8 | 2 | |
| 53 | Wednesday 25 July 1990 | Graham Harvey | Rebecca fakes Tim's blood test. | 8 | 2 | |
| 54 | Friday 27 July 1990 | Diana Souhami | There's a farewell party for Tim and Fiona. | 8 | 2 | |
| 55 | Monday 30 July 1990 | Diana Souhami | Melody spends more time at the Stardust. | 8 | 2 | |
| 56 | Wednesday 1 August 1990 | Margaret Phelan | Piers locks Rebecca out of Medicom. | 9 | 2 | |
| 57 | Friday 3 August 1990 | Margaret Phelan | Stefan is concerned about Tim's test. | 9 | 2 | |
| 58 | Monday 6 August 1990 | Margaret Phelan | Finbow spots a mystery ship. | 9 | 2 | |
| 59 | Wednesday 8 August 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | The Santa Maria crew arouse suspicion. | 9 | 2 | |
| 60 | Friday 10 August 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | Amado seeks information on valuable metals. | 9 | 2 | |
| 61 | Monday 13 August 1990 | Nick Warburton | Finbow shares his concerns. | — | 2 | |
| 62 | Wednesday 15 August 1990 | Simon Frith | The Amazons board the Ilea. | — | 2 | |
| 63 | Friday 17 August 1990 | Simon Frith | The pirate ship seems to head to Ganymede. | — | 2 | |
| 64 | Monday 20 August 1990 | Diana Souhami | Finbow suspects the pirates have gone to Leda. | — | 2 | |
| 65 | Wednesday 22 August 1990 | Diana Souhami | Finbow is worried about Eliot and Mercedes' battle plans. | — | 2 | |
| 66 | Friday 24 August 1990 | Sue Teddern | Mercedes, Daniel and Jim plan to build a railgun. | — | 2 | |
| 67 | Monday 27 August 1990 | Joanne Maguire | Paul, the new principal, arrives. | — | 2 | |
| 68 | Wednesday 29 August 1990 | Joanne Maguire | Brelan offers to consider Finbow for Daedalus if he will co-operate. | — | 2 | |
| 69 | Friday 31 August 1990 | Ben Aaronovitch | Brelan and Mercedes do an EVA to check the railgun. | — | 2 | |
| 70 | Monday 3 September 1990 | Ben Aaronovitch | Brelan reveals that the Ilea is carrying nuclear missiles. | — | 2 | |
| 71 | Wednesday 5 September 1990 | Veronica Henry | The Santa Maria is sighted. | — | 2 | |
| 72 | Friday 7 September 1990 | Veronica Henry | Brelan asks Paul to do an EVA with him to repair the telescopes. | — | 2 | |
| 73 | Monday 10 September 1990 | Graham Harvey | The Santa Maria fires a missile. | — | 2 | |
| 74 | Wednesday 12 September 1990 | Graham Harvey | Eliot tries to begin negotiations with the Santa Maria. | — | 2 | |
| 75 | Friday 14 September 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | The Santa Maria attacks. | — | 2 | |
| Volume 3: Ghost in the Machine | ||||||
| 76 | Monday 17 September 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | There is chaos on the Ilea. | — | 3 | |
| 77 | Wednesday 19 September 1990 | Joanne Maguire | The damaged ship returns to Callisto. | — | 3 | |
| 78 | Friday 21 September 1990 | Jonathan Myserson | Paul tries to get the communications working. | — | 3 | |
| 79 | Monday 24 September 1990 | Jonathan Myserson | Brelan attempts to find a substitute for molybdenum. | — | 3 | |
| 80 | Wednesday 26 September 1990 | Ben Aaronovitch | Gaby and Philippe arrive. | — | 3 | |
| 81 | Friday 28 September 1990 | Ben Aaronovitch | Brelan stops Sabine selling her story about Daedalus. | — | 3 | |
| 82 | Monday 1 October 1990 | Helen Leadbeater | Mercedes finds Sabine ensconced with Brelan. | — | 3 | |
| 83 | Wednesday 3 October 1990 | Helen Leadbeater | Brelan stalls Sabine after Finbow's blunder. | — | 3 | |
| 84 | Friday 5 October 1990 | Graham Harvey | Brelan promises Sabine a scoop. | — | 3 | |
| 85 | Monday 8 October 1990 | Graham Harvey | Melody goes for counselling. | — | 3 | |
| 86 | Wednesday 10 October 1990 | Joanne Maguire | Victoria discovers molybdenum on Achilles G33. | — | 3 | |
| 87 | Friday 12 October 1990 | Joanne Maguire | Jean-François tries to say goodbye to Melody. | — | 3 | |
| 88 | Monday 15 October 1990 | Rowena Rumble | Finbow is outside, with vertigo. | — | 3 | |
| 89 | Wednesday 17 October 1990 | Margaret Phelan | Mercedes is declared unfit for work. | — | 3 | |
| 90 | Friday 19 October 1990 | Margaret Phelan | Eliot and Finbow discover there was a murder on the Achilles expedition. | — | 3 | |
| 91 | Monday 22 October 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | Speculation abounds after the mysterious sightings in the Dome. | — | 3 | |
| 92 | Wednesday 24 October 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | The ghostly face re-appears. | — | 3 | |
| 93 | Friday 26 October 1990 | Torrey Steed | Daniel works out what causes the apparitions. | — | 3 | |
| 94 | Monday 29 October 1990 | Jonathan Myerson | Petra keeps moving the Michaelangelo files. | — | 3 | |
| 95 | Wednesday 31 October 1990 | Ben Aaronovitch | Daniel and Finbow trigger a dangerous computer program. | — | 3 | |
| 96 | Friday 2 November 1990 | Joanne Maguire | Brelan and Finbow try to get rid of the Achilles file. | — | 3 | |
| 97 | Monday 5 November 1990 | Margaret Phelan | Drummond arrives, and the Ilea leaves for G33. | — | 3 | |
| 98 | Wednesday 7 November 1990 | Margaret Phelan | Anna reveals that Melody is pregnant. | — | 3 | |
| 99 | Friday 9 November 1990 | Veronica Henry | Paul and Mercedes do an EVA. | — | 3 | |
| 100 | Monday 12 November 1990 | Jonathan Myerson | Christophe has to operate on Mercedes. | — | 3 | |
| 101 | Wednesday 14 November 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | Brelan refuses Finbow's resignation. | — | 3 | |
| 102 | Friday 16 November 1990 | Julian Spilsbury | It is the day of Paul's funeral. | — | 3 | |
| 103 | Monday 19 November 1990 | Veronica Henry | The ship has a dangerous journey to asteroid G33. | — | 3 | |
| 104 | Wednesday 21 November 1990 | Joanne Maguire | All power must be turned off to stop the plasma cloud imploding. | — | 3 | |
| 105 | Friday 23 November 1990 | Torrey Steed | Gabriella stows away on the shuttle as Drummond goes to G33. | — | 3 | |
| 106 | Monday 26 November 1990 | Torrey Steed | Gabriella returns, and Brelan expels her. | — | 3 | |
| 107 | Wednesday 28 November 1990 | Helen Leadbeater | Drummond is stuck on G33. | — | 3 | |
| 108 | Friday 30 November 1990 | Helen Leadbeater | Melody decides to keep the baby. | — | 3 | |
The first UK broadcast of episodes 109–150 was on the Sci Fi Channel in 1996.
| No. | UK airdate | Writer | Synopsis | UK DVD | US DVD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume 3: Ghost in the Machine (continued) | ||||||
| 109 | Monday 22 January 1996 | Margaret Phelan | Gabriella's mother arrives. | — | 3 | |
| 110 | Monday 22 January 1996 | Margaret Phelan | Brelan takes over Physics Lab 3. | — | 3 | |
| 111 | Tuesday 23 January 1996 | Jonathan Myerson | The students occupy the lab. | — | 3 | |
| 112 | Tuesday 23 January 1996 | Joanne Maguire | Brelan threatens to expel all the students. | — | 3 | |
| 113 | Wednesday 24 January 1996 | Julian Spilsbury | The students lose enthusiasm for the occupation. | — | 3 | |
| 114 | Wednesday 24 January 1996 | Julian Spilsbury | Brelan learns of an explosion at the Interworld Chemical Plant. | — | 3 | |
| Volume 4: Fires of Io | ||||||
| 115 | Thursday 25 January 1996 | Joanne Maguire | Drummond tries to save the chemical plant survivors. | — | 4 | |
| 116 | Thursday 25 January 1996 | Torrey Steed | Finbow attempts a rescue. | — | 4 | |
| 117 | Friday 26 January 1996 | Helen Leadbeater | Finbow is nominated for a bravery award, and gets a new job. | — | 4 | |
| 118 | Friday 26 January 1996 | Helen Leadbeater | Brelan agrees to try to get Finbow's transfer reversed. | — | 4 | |
| 119 | Monday 29 January 1996 | Ben Aaronovitch | Anna tries to break up Sara and Jim's relationship. | — | 4 | |
| 120 | Monday 29 January 1996 | Ben Aaronovitch | Natasha is offered the position of captain of the Ilea. | — | 4 | |
| 121 | Tuesday 30 January 1996 | Joanne Maguire | The ship returns to Callisto. | — | 4 | |
| 122 | Tuesday 30 January 1996 | Joanne Maguire | Tim is suspected of stealing a hamster from a research lab. | — | 4 | |
| 123 | Wednesday 31 January 1996 | Julian Spilsbury | Tim's hamster escapes. | — | 4 | |
| 124 | Wednesday 31 January 1996 | Julian Spilsbury | Natasha decides to fumigate. | — | 4 | |
| 125 | Thursday 1 February 1996 | Margaret Phelan | Finbow invites Natasha to dinner. | — | 4 | |
| 126 | Thursday 1 February 1996 | Margaret Phelan | Space City Security come to remove the hamster. | — | 4 | |
| 127 | Friday 2 February 1996 | Helen Leadbeater | Victoria decides to apply for a job on Ceres. | — | 4 | |
| 128 | Friday 2 February 1996 | Helen Leadbeater | Brelan announces he will run the college himself. | — | 4 | |
| 129 | Monday 5 February 1996 | Torrey Steed | Anna is disappointed not to receive her degree early. | — | 4 | |
| 130 | Monday 5 February 1996 | Torrey Steed | Anna plans revenge on Fiona. | — | 4 | |
| 131 | Tuesday 6 February 1996 | Ben Aaronovitch | Brelan announces the ship is to go to Pasiphae for six months. | — | 4 | |
| 132 | Tuesday 6 February 1996 | Ben Aaronovitch | Evidence of life is found on Ariel 9. | — | 4 | |
| 133 | Wednesday 7 February 1996 | Margaret Phelan | The Stardust Café has been closed. | — | 4 | |
| 134 | Wednesday 7 February 1996 | Margaret Phelan | Mercedes is jealous of Natasha's popularity. | — | 4 | |
| 135 | Thursday 8 February 1996 | Joanne Maguire | Anna thinks she has seen a miracle. | — | 4 | |
| 136 | Thursday 8 February 1996 | Joanne Maguire | Natasha and Mercedes argue. | — | 4 | |
| 137 | Friday 9 February 1996 | Julian Spilsbury | Anna realises who she saw. | — | 4 | |
| 138 | Friday 9 February 1996 | Julian Spilsbury | Brelan allows Tranquility to stay. | — | 4 | |
| 139 | Monday 12 February 1996 | Helen Leadbeater | Melody is jealous of Tranquility. | — | 4 | |
| 140 | Monday 12 February 1996 | Helen Leadbeater | Jean-Francois' grant is suspended. | — | 4 | |
| 141 | Tuesday 13 February 1996 | Veronica Henry | Finbow falls ill. | — | 4 | |
| 142 | Tuesday 13 February 1996 | Joanne Maguire | Natasha is angry with Finbow. | — | 4 | |
| 143 | Wednesday 15 February 1996 | Joanne Maguire | Tranquility overrides Petra. | — | 4 | |
| 144 | Wednesday 15 February 1996 | Jane Fallon | Byron wants to be entertainment manager. | — | 4 | |
| 145 | Thursday 16 February 1996 | Margaret Phelan | Finbow and Natasha are marooned. | — | 4 | |
| 146 | Thursday 16 February 1996 | Diane Culverhouse | The Illea returns to Hymalia. | — | 4 | |
| 147 | Friday 17 February 1996 | Veronica Henry | Jim and Anna fall ill. | — | 4 | |
| 148 | Friday 17 February 1996 | Ben Aaronovitch | Brelan tells Mercedes their relationship is over. | — | 4 | |
| 149 | Monday 19 February 1996 | Rowena Rumble | Drummond has to do a dangerous EVA. | — | 4 | |
| 150 | Monday 19 February 1996 | William Smethurst | A fire breaks out and the Ilea is evacuated. | — | 4 | |
Episodes 1 to 60 were released by Oracle Home Entertainment on Region 2 DVD in the UK in 9 volumes.
| Volume | Episodes | Title | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1–11 | Invasion From Space | |
| 2 | 12–20 | The Plasma Ball | |
| 3 | 21–30 | Return to Space City | |
| 4 | 31–35 | Mystery of Amalthea | |
| 5 | 36–40 | Rescue the Copernicus! | |
| 6 | 41–45 | Volcano | |
| 7 | 46–50 | Stardust | |
| 8 | 51–55 | Lost in Space | |
| 9 | 56–60 | The Mystery Ship |
The entire series was released by Image Entertainment on Region 1 DVD in the US in 4 volumes.
| Volume | Episodes | Title | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1–36 | The New Frontier | |
| 2 | 37–75 | The Pirates of Leda | |
| 3 | 76–114 | Ghost in the Machine | |
| 4 | 115–150 | Fires of Io |