Thunderbirds Are Go

Thunderbirds Are Go is a 1966 British sciencefiction film based on Thunderbirds, a 1960s television series starring marionette puppets and featuring scale model effects in a filming process dubbed Supermarionation. Written by Thunderbirds creators Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, directed by David Lane and produced by AP Films, Thunderbirds Are Go develops the franchise with a plot focusing on the futuristic spacecraft ZeroX and its manned mission to Mars. When ZeroX suffers a mechanical failure during reentry, it is up to International Rescue, with the aid of the Thunderbird machines, to save the astronauts on board before the spacecraft is obliterated in a crash landing.

In 2065, Note the ZeroX spacecraft launches from Glenn Field as the first attempt at a manned mission to Mars. Unknown to Captain Paul Travers and his crew of two astronauts and two scientists, criminal mastermind the Hood has infiltrated the ship to photograph ZeroXs wing mechanism. When his foot becomes trapped in the hydraulics, the Hood causes a systems failure and ZeroX loses control. While the villain manages to extract his bloodied foot and parachute from the undercarriage, Travers and his crew eject in an escape pod and ZeroX crashes into the ocean before leaving Earths atmosphere.In 2067, Note at the conclusion of an investigation into the loss of ZeroX, the Inquiry Board of the Space Exploration Center reaches a verdict of sabotage. In the meantime, a second Mars mission has been planned. Days before the launch of the new ZeroX, International Rescue agrees to a request to organise security in view of the possibility of another sabotage threat. Jeff Tracy dispatches Scott to Glenn Field in Thunderbird 1, while Virgil in Thunderbirdand Alan in Thunderbirdare assigned to escort ZeroX as it leaves the atmosphere. Posing as a reporter at the prelaunch press conference, Lady Penelope ensures that Travers and the other four crewmembers are delivered St. Christopher brooches. Ostensibly for luck, these are in fact homing devices a plot device previously used in the episode The Duchess Assignment. The next day, a search for Dr Grants brooch checks negative. Scott unmasks the man waiting for liftoff on board ZeroX as the Hood in another of his disguises. The saboteur flees Glenn Field in a car, which Penelope and Parker pursue in FAB1. The Hood transfers to a speedboat, and then a helicopter piloted by an accomplice Parker shoots the aircraft down with the RollsRoyces builtin machine gun and the Hood is seemingly killed. Note Meanwhile, the real Grant is returned to ZeroX and the spacecraft launches without further incident. ........

Source: Wikipedia