Sky Trackers (TV 1990)

NASA's Tidbinbilla Tracking station in Australia prepares for the re-entry of a decaying satellite containing a dangerous biological experiment. It is decided to bring it down near the ... See full summary »

Director:

John Power

Writer:

Tony Morphett

Stars:

Pamela Sue Martin, Maia Brewton, Paul Williams

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Pamela Sue Martin	...	Doctor Spencer Jenkins
Maia Brewton	...	Ali Barnes
Paul Williams	...	Doctor Tony Masters
Courtney Keiler	...	Fiona Barnes
Justin Rosniak	...	Mike Masters
Leigh Russell	...	Carlo Delamontay / Hacker
Max Phipps	...	Doctor Giles
Todd Rippon	...	Doctor Wolf Keller
John Mann	...	Colonel
Halina Abramowitz	...	Scientist
Wenanty Nosul	...	Scientist
Laurence Coy	...	Scientist
Anni Finsterer	...	Scientist

Storyline

NASA's Tidbinbilla Tracking station in Australia prepares for the re-entry of a decaying satellite containing a dangerous biological experiment. It is decided to bring it down near the station, for which job Dr Tony Masters has been brought in to assist Dr Spencer. At the same time, and unknown to her, Dr Spencer's daughter Ali has been using her computer to hack in to the station and reprogram the dish to communicate with a decommissioned satellite. Meanwhile, an unscrupulous industrial espionage agent, has penetrated the station and is preparing to take charge of the re-entry process, causing havoc and a chase through the Australian countryside to find the potentially deadly satellite.

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Plot Keywords:

computer cracker

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild violence

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Also Known As:

Das Geheimnis des verschwundenen Satelliten

Filming Locations:

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Australian Children's Television Foundation, Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), Disney Channel

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Followed by Sky Trackers (1994)

User Reviews

A Fun Movie

I have to confess I've had a thing for Pamela Sue Martin ever since she was "Nancy Drew" back in the '70s. I hadn't seen her in anything for years, so I was delighted to view the video of this movie in VHS format when a relative recently checked it out of a church library. (Films like this are why I bought a dual VCR/DVD region-free player, and a DVD is also now available).

Aside from my interest in Ms. Martin however, I can recommend this movie as an enjoyable film for the whole family. I found it more interesting to watch as an American because it was filmed in Australia by an Australian studio. It seems fairly well written and kept my attention throughout. It has lots of suspense (in a Disney sort of way) as everyone wonders if a satellite will crash and release its deadly contents. Plus there are spies about and not everyone is who they seem.

This was made in 1990, so the computers and space technology are quite dated now. I'm sure your kids will notice that right off. But who cares? It's the story that's important. Just tell them that all you have to do is put yourself in a 1990 mindset and enjoy it for its time period - that's the technology you would have had to deal with if you were living this story.

The children in the film are the central focus of course, but as an adult I could still enjoy that. Didn't you want to be a hero when you were a kid? You can live it again through this movie.