Mark IX Hawk
Encyclopedia
The Mark IX Hawk is a fictional spacecraft
in the Space: 1999
television series. They are apparently designed specifically for combat, and are fast, maneuverable, and well-armed. The Hawks were featured in only one episode of the entire series, "War Games", but they made such an impression that they are still recognizable to many fans of science fiction
.
Plans to build a Hawk base near or on Moonbase Alpha
were scrapped in mid-1999. It was believed to be a gross waste of limited space funding, as no extraterrestrial attacks had occurred after the UFO
incursions of the early 1980s had ceased. The existing Hawks were believed to be destroyed when the Centauri station blew up due to gravitational forces when the moon was blown out of earth orbit.
and fuel tank. Strap on boosters provide acceleration of up to 20g. The Hawk is modular like its Eagle
cousin, consisting of a Command Module, Service Module, and engines.
The Hawk can be fitted with ship to ship missiles and different bombs and rockets depending on the type of mission. These weapons can be fitted on the forward wings. The Hawk is usually painted a burned orange color and thus is easily recognizable. The Hawk can be a devastating weapon; in the episode War Games a number of Hawks from an alien planet attack Moonbase Alpha
without warning. The moonbase sends a squadron of Eagle Transporters
to stop the Hawks; in the ensuing battle all but one of the Eagles are destroyed and Moonbase Alpha suffers severe, crippling damage from the Hawks' weapons.
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
in the Space: 1999
Space: 1999
Space: 1999 is a British science-fiction television series that ran for two seasons and originally aired from 1975 to 1977. In the opening episode, nuclear waste from Earth stored on the Moon's far side explodes in a catastrophic accident on 13 September 1999, knocking the Moon out of orbit and...
television series. They are apparently designed specifically for combat, and are fast, maneuverable, and well-armed. The Hawks were featured in only one episode of the entire series, "War Games", but they made such an impression that they are still recognizable to many fans of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
.
History
The Mark IX Hawk was designed as a defense against extraterrestrial attack. Testing began in 1996 and the Hawk was commissioned in 1997 by the Global Defense Command. To help with response time to invasionary forces, the Hawk fleet was stationed aboard the orbiting Centauri Space Station.Plans to build a Hawk base near or on Moonbase Alpha
Moonbase Alpha
Moonbase Alpha is a fictional moon base and the main setting in the science fiction television series Space: 1999.-Moonbase Alpha:Located in the Moon crater Plato and constructed out of quarried rock and ores, Moonbase Alpha is four kilometres in diameter and extends up to one kilometre in areas...
were scrapped in mid-1999. It was believed to be a gross waste of limited space funding, as no extraterrestrial attacks had occurred after the UFO
UFO (TV series)
UFO is a 1970-1971 British television science fiction series about an alien invasion of Earth, created by Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson with Reg Hill, and produced by the Andersons and Lew Grade's Century 21 Productions for Grade's ITC Entertainment company.UFO first aired in the UK and Canada...
incursions of the early 1980s had ceased. The existing Hawks were believed to be destroyed when the Centauri station blew up due to gravitational forces when the moon was blown out of earth orbit.
Design
The Mark IX Hawk is essentially a two man cockpit (pilot and gunner) and life support system mounted on a single fusion engineFusion power
Fusion power is the power generated by nuclear fusion processes. In fusion reactions two light atomic nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus . In doing so they release a comparatively large amount of energy arising from the binding energy due to the strong nuclear force which is manifested...
and fuel tank. Strap on boosters provide acceleration of up to 20g. The Hawk is modular like its Eagle
Eagle (Space: 1999)
The Eagle Transporter is a fictional spacecraft and the iconic image of the 1970s television series Space: 1999. The Eagles serve as the primary spacecraft of Moonbase Alpha, which has a fleet of them. The Eagles are primarily used to explore alien planets, defend Moonbase Alpha from attack, and to...
cousin, consisting of a Command Module, Service Module, and engines.
Weapons
Dual weapon pods house computer targeted laser batteries, 16 independently activated missile silos, and two self guiding torpedoes housing fusion warheads. An additional laser battery is located on the underneath portion of the forward Command Pod. All weapons are operated manually by a gunner, or are programmed to follow a predetermined attack plan. In an emergency, the weapons pods and engine assembly can be jettisoned and the command module can be used as a lifeboat.The Hawk can be fitted with ship to ship missiles and different bombs and rockets depending on the type of mission. These weapons can be fitted on the forward wings. The Hawk is usually painted a burned orange color and thus is easily recognizable. The Hawk can be a devastating weapon; in the episode War Games a number of Hawks from an alien planet attack Moonbase Alpha
Moonbase Alpha
Moonbase Alpha is a fictional moon base and the main setting in the science fiction television series Space: 1999.-Moonbase Alpha:Located in the Moon crater Plato and constructed out of quarried rock and ores, Moonbase Alpha is four kilometres in diameter and extends up to one kilometre in areas...
without warning. The moonbase sends a squadron of Eagle Transporters
Eagle (Space: 1999)
The Eagle Transporter is a fictional spacecraft and the iconic image of the 1970s television series Space: 1999. The Eagles serve as the primary spacecraft of Moonbase Alpha, which has a fleet of them. The Eagles are primarily used to explore alien planets, defend Moonbase Alpha from attack, and to...
to stop the Hawks; in the ensuing battle all but one of the Eagles are destroyed and Moonbase Alpha suffers severe, crippling damage from the Hawks' weapons.
External links
- Martin Bowers Model World — Creator of the original model, along with other spacecraft from Space: 1999Space: 1999Space: 1999 is a British science-fiction television series that ran for two seasons and originally aired from 1975 to 1977. In the opening episode, nuclear waste from Earth stored on the Moon's far side explodes in a catastrophic accident on 13 September 1999, knocking the Moon out of orbit and...
- Space 1999 Catacombs - Hawk — Extensive profiles on all models created of the Mark IX Hawk