[Scene opens to a rocket standing on a launch pad. Title card The Perils of Penelope is displayed.] Colonel Benson: "Attention. Solar control to all personnel. 19 minutes to liftoff. Clear launch area. Repeat: Clear launch area." [Scene cuts to an improvised television studio. A presenter is talking to the camera.] [Scene cuts to space center control room.] [Colonel Benson presses another button. The rocket engines fire up. Scene cuts to show a thrust meter reading 17 million pounds of thrust.] Colonel Benson: "Seventeen million pounds thrust, and increasing. Thrust checks green." [Control Centre.]