The Continuity GuideMoonbase Guide
by Martin Willey
The Continuity Guide
Moonbase Alpha is constructed in a radial pattern around a central tower. Apart from the tower, other buildings seem to be 2 or 3 storeys high above the surface. Travel tube tunnels extend between buildings, the five launch pads and small structures. The lunar surface around the buildings is marked by small craters and occasional tracks, but there is no evidence of the heavy construction that must have been used to build the base. Without weather and erosion, every footstep in the lunar surface would be preserved - although the breakaway and numerous explosions would have obscured some details with new craters.
Most shots of Moonbase Alpha in Year 2 are library shots from Year 1 and photo cut-outs, but some new footage is used. Between Year 1 and 2, the Main Mission Tower has turned a little, and a thin boarding tube has been added to the launch pads. There is a little more detail on the launch pad spur.
An overhead view. Note launch pad in the foreground and the radial pattern of travel tubes. This image was used as a large photo cut-out in the series: in Alpha Child (see below) and Dorzak.
Another version of the same shot.
From the Year One titles.
The same view, as seen in the opening shots of The Last Enemy, Space Brain and Dragon's Domain (it is also seen in the establishing shot of 1996 Alpha).
The base drops with the Earth above, as seen in Breakaway and Dragon's Domain, and the opening titles of every episode.
The first view of Moonbase Alpha in Breakaway.
A view of Moonbase Alpha in Breakaway with foreground hills.
A view of Moonbase Alpha in Breakaway with foreground hills.
A view of Moonbase Alpha in Breakaway. A similar angle to the series titles, but with different hills beyond.
The duplicate Alpha from Another Time, Another Place, with more different hills beyond.
Five Eagles flying from Alpha, from Guardian Of Piri (also seen in flopped left for right in a few seconds later; it is repeated in War Games and the title shot of Brian The Brain)
The opening shot from Ring Around The Moon, with strong illumination.
Another shot from Ring Around The Moon, with different hills beyond.
The base in Black Sun with the Bergman forcefield active.
An unusual view of one side of the base (actually the duplicate Alpha) from Another Time, Another Place.
The same shot, with different colour, from Guardian Of Piri. The same shot is also seen in Voyager's Return
Low angle opening shot from Alpha Child.
The small cylindrical building in the foreground disappears in Year 2 (perhaps destroyed by aliens); the travel tube ends abruptly.
A very low angle shot from The Last Sunset.
Very low angle from Force Of Life. The lights go out.
The battle scarred Moonbase in War Games.
A pan down from space to the Moonbase is seen behind the title credits of The Troubled Spirit. The second establishing shot from The Infernal Machine is identical.
Low angle shot seen three times in The Infernal Machine
A distant view of Moonbase Alpha in Breakaway. Shot on 15 February 1974.
A distant view of the base from Black Sun.
High angle shot of the base from Alpha Child
Copyright Martin Willey
