Thunderbird 3

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Thunderbird 3 is International Rescue's single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) space vehicle, designed for space rescue and maintaining the systems and crew of Thunderbird 5. Like all the Thunderbird machines, it was designed by Brains. Its main pilot is Alan Tracy, with his brother, Scott, usually acting as co-pilot.

Design[]

Specifications[]

Thunderbird 3 uses chemical rockets for lift-off and boost, an ion drive for propulsion while in space, and chemical retro-rockets for reverse-thrust in space. It could travel from Earth to within range of the Sun in 65 hours.

Interior[]

There are a number of levels within Thunderbird 3, accessed via a single-person lift. The primary cockpit is located at the uppermost level and contains the primary control console, seating for two and airlock access. A second room contains rescue equipment, including a control console for long-range transmissions such as a safety beam that can be used to trigger retros of distant space ships.

Its primary pilot is designated as Alan Tracy, although John is presumed to pilot Thunderbird 3 during space rescues when Alan is on satellite duty. (Both store their respective uniforms onboard, depending on who is "on call" at the moment; although John's is never actually seen there.)

Virgil has also been seen piloting Thunderbird 3, during a maintenance mission to Thunderbird 5 in Ricochet.

The interior of Thunderbird 3 was originally decorated in beige, red and light grey colours. However, like all of the Thunderbirds, it underwent redecoration and refitting to a darker colour scheme and more comfortable and secure seating.

Technical Data[]

Engines: 3 chemical rockets used for launch, landing, emergency boost, and orbit change; 3 ion-drive particle accelerators used in deep space; pitch and yaw rockets: 12 in middle ring for course corrections, 20 in nose and 24 at rear for attitude adjustments
Emergency acceleration: 10 g
Launch thrust: 4.5 million pounds
Length: 287 feet
Main body diameter: 23 feet
Maximum sustained acceleration: 6g
Nacelle span: 80 feet
Power source: atomic fusion reactor
Range: unlimited
Standard acceleration: 1g
Weight: 562 tons

Launch Sequence[]

Main article: Thunderbird 3/Launch Sequence

Docking Procedure[]

Main article: Thunderbird 3/Docking Procedure

A close up on Thunderbirds 3 and 5 in space — Thunderbird 3 prepares to dock with Thunderbird 5

Thunderbird 3 is not just International Rescue's space-fairing rescue craft - it's also the primary vessel used to supply and access Thunderbird 5. Both craft are designed to interlock with one another to provide a secure way of safely passing between the two.

Missions[]

Main article: Thunderbird 3/Missions

The least used of all the main Thunderbird craft, Thunderbird 3 has only been out on a rescue mission three times on screen. First, to rescue the crew of the Sun Probe rocket who had ventured too far into the Sun (Sun Probe), and later to rescue Elliot from drifting off into space (The Impostors) and the crew of Pirate Satellite TV Station KLA as its orbit rapidly descended towards Earth (Ricochet).

Cutaway Drawings[]

Main article: History of the Cutaway Drawings (Classic Thunderbirds)

Thunderbird 3 has appeared in no less then eighteen different publications, but in only four basic designs - three of which are illustrated by Graham Bleathman.

For a full list of books and magazines which the cutaway drawings appeared in, please refer to the above linked article.

Trivia[]

Throughout the series, each Tracy brother (excluding Gordon) is seen taking command of Thunderbird 3 on at least one occasion each. This is unique as it does not happen with any other Thunderbird in the fleet.
Thunderbird 3's control room got a complete redesign for the movie Thunderbirds Are Go (film). This new interior was subsequently also used in season 2.

Thunderbird 3 is the most rarely seen and used of the Thunderbird craft.
- This may have been because outer space rescue missions would have been too difficult to both write and film. Thunderbird 3 only had three rescue operations that were all relatively simple, and Thunderbird 2 was added to two of the missions to provide vital help. Consequently, co-creator Gerry Anderson had said he didn't find Thunderbird 3 exciting.
Some shots of Thunderbird 3 taking off have a different font of the number 3, compared to shots of it flying through space.

Despite being the pilot of Thunderbird 3 every other month, John Tracy was never seen piloting it in a rescue mission (he did guide TB3 in to dock with TB5, in The Mighty Atom). Only once was he ever seen seated on the settee, in the lounge - near the conclusion of Operation Crash-Dive.
The original Thunderbird 3 is seemingly destroyed by the Hood's henchmen in the TV21 comic, Brains is Dead. The original Thunderbird 2 is also seemingly damaged in the same way. At the end of the story, Jeff remarks that both craft will have to be rebuilt, implying that the damage was so severe that both Thunderbird craft have to be completely replaced, though Jeff may simply mean that the two craft need extensive repairs.