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From AICN, Expensive-looking, slow-moving and preposterous, Space 1999 was a strange show about the moon getting blasted out of Earth orbit by a nuclear mishap. The moon - the whole moon - and its moonbase would then zip around the galaxy visiting all sorts of alien solar systems.

It was non-puppet series from puppet-series producers Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, whose puppet series were so soundly mocked by “Team America.” It was launched in 1975, between the “Star Trek” TV show its big-screen movie, but it reeks of Kubrick’s “2001” (1968) in its effects, its setting, its storylines and its title music. Kubrick’s “Clockwork Orange” (1971) may have influenced the lycra-happy costume design (not well-suited to Martin Laundau and Barbara Bain’s middle-aged physiques). “Mission: Impossible” (1966-1973) may have influenced its casting and title credits.

The costumes, zippered sleeves notwithstanding, look in retrospect a lot like those Robert Wise ultized in “Star Trek: The Motion Picture.”

The new 30th anniversary set contains all 48 episodes, three of which come with commentary tracks. One is by a superfan, one is by two of the writers, and a third is by season-one producer Sylvia Anderson. I found Anderson’s the most interesting; she talks about how money-man Lew Grade (perhaps emboldened by his success with “The Prisoner”) gave his American stars, Martin Landau and Barbara Bain, lots of creative control over the series. We learn Charles Crichton, who later directed “A Fish Called Wanda,” directed roughly a third of the “1999” episodes. There’s also a fascinating story about Stanley Kubrick contacting the Andersons about doing special effects for him.

Other extras:

* A short fan film, “Message From Moonbase Alpha,” which starred series regular Zienia Merton as Sandra Benes, and provided an ending of sorts for the series.
* Alternate sequences from key episodes.
* Vintage interviews with cast and crew.
* A vintage interview with set designer Keith Wilson.
* A special effects featurette.
* A film publicizing a “Space City” amusement park exhibit utilizing “1999” footage.
* A “Space 1999” Ice Lolly commercial.
* An original year-two behind-the-scenes featurette.
* A BBC behind-the-scenes segment.
* Original promotional spots and theatrical trailers.
* Photo galleries depicting memorabilia, special effects, and deleted and alternate scenes.