Just another day on the Galvanna asteroid mining facility. The only worker is a man named Ned Tedford, although he has a potted plant named Gladys that he treats as if it were a companion. A solar flare causes a disaster, and Alan is called to retrieve Ned; since the other Tracy siblings are dealing with a tunnel fire in the Pyrenees, Kayo comes with Alan. Another solar flare takes out Thunderbird Three's navigation systems as they're approaching Ned's asteroid, and they drain their fuel in getting back to it. Alan manages to contact Ned and get him (and Gladys) into Thunderbird Three, and they use some mining explosives to make the asteroid slingshot around the sun instead of falling into it, but they still won't be facing the right direction when they come out. So they use the last of the explosives to get pointed back towards Earth and strap in for the trip home. (The asteroid is lost to the depths of space.)
Tropes:
- Companion Cube: Gladys, Ned's potted geranium "friend".
- Consulting Mr Puppet: Ned briefly attempts to argue that Gladys's opinion should be given as much weight as his. Alan and Kayo disagree.
- Everyone Knows Morse: It's stated that not everyone does, but Jeff Tracy made all the Tracy brothers learn, and everyone working on the Galvanna Mine knows, which means it's still viable as a means for Alan and Ned to communicate.
- Just a Kid: Ned complains about Alan being too young to be rescuing him. Kayo sets him straight.
- Solar Flare Disaster: The inciting incident of the episode, and also causes more trouble when another one arrives.
- Spaceship Slingshot Stunt: Note the episode title. This is how Thunderbird Three gets home after the solar flare recovery drains their fuel.
