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While it is true that Lost in Space officially debuted on September 15, 1965, every true fan of the series knows that it actually begins on October 16, 1997, the date that the Robinson family, along with pilot Don West (Mark Goddard), are to be launched in the space vessel Jupiter 2 on a colonization mission to Alpha Centauri. Shortly before lift-off, the Robinsons are given words of encouragement by their trusted associate Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris)--who, once he is alone, reveals himself to be an enemy agent, intent upon sabotaging the Jupiter 1 before it reaches its destination. For this purpose, Smith has planted a booby-trapped robot in the space vessel, programmed to destroy both the vessel and its occupants. Unfortunately for Smith, he himself is trapped on board the Jupiter a few seconds before the final countdown! Much of the expository footage in this episode is lifted from the original pilot film for Lost in Space, in which neither Dr. Smith nor the robot appeared.