Cloudbase
Cloudbase as seen in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
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| First appearance | "The Mysterons" |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Spectrum Organisation |
| Launched | 2067 |
| References |
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| General characteristics | |
| Fighters | Angel Interceptors |
| Auxiliary craft | Spectrum Passenger Jets, Magnocopters, Gyroscopic escape capsules |
| Propulsion | Hover combine jet thrusters Cahelium engines |
| Power | Solar panels |
| Length | 630 feet (190 m) |
| Width | 330 feet (100 m) |
Cloudbase is the fictional skyborne headquarters of the international security organisation Spectrum, from Gerry Anderson's science-fiction television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967–68). In the 2005 computer-animated remake, Cloudbase is re-imagined as Skybase. In both series, the base's design is that of an airborne aircraft carrier, stationed in either Earth's high troposphere (1960s series) or low stratosphere (2005 series).
While developing the series' premise in 1966, creator Anderson remembered that during the Battle of Britain, the RAF's task of countering the Luftwaffe quickly had been complicated by the delay caused by launching from the ground: "... it took [the Spitfire squadron] about 20 minutes to climb high enough to intercept the bombers that were already at 16,000 feet." Thus, he resolved to make the headquarters of the fictional Spectrum Organisation a hovering, airborne aircraft carrier: "This could launch aircraft that would then climb to 100,000 feet and intercept extraterrestrial invaders within minutes."
Resembling an aircraft carrier, complete with flight deck and powered by jet engines, Cloudbase hovers at a fixed altitude of 40,000 feet (7.6 mi; 12 km). Although normally geostationary, it can be moved to any point above the Earth's surface as and when required. It was constructed in Earth orbit and has a crew of 600. The whole structure is pressurised; pilots entering or exiting aircraft on the flight deck do so via airtight shafts and docking ports. Cloudbase's primary defence is its squadron of three Angel Interceptor fighter aircraft, flown by five female pilots (who have faster reflexes than men). One fighter is manned around the clock, with the others on continuous standby. Auxiliary aircraft include Spectrum Passenger Jets and Magnocopters, which are launched from a separate part of the flight deck.
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