Polaris - Cigar-shaped rocketship seen on the children's science fiction adventure series TOM CORBETT, SPACE CADET/CBS/ABC/NBC/DUM/1950-55. Based in 2350s, the Polaris was the greatest rocket cruiser in Commander Arkwright's fleet flown by the Space Cadets of Space Academy.

Its crew included Tom Corbett (Frankie Thomas), a curly-haired Senior Space Cadet; Cadet Roger Manning (Jan Merlin), the ship's radar man; Cadet Astro (Al Markim), a Spock-like Venusian; Cadet Rattison (Frank Sutton) and Captain Strong (Michael Harvey/Edward Bryce).

The Polaris which took off vertically, sported small landing fins at the base of the rocket which ran up one-fourth the length of the ship. Other space academy ships used on the program were the Falcon, the Hydro, the Orion, the Sirius and the Vega.

Pilots used the Tele-Transceivers for visual communications with the Space Academy and the Strato-Screen for exploring the depths of space. For defense they used the Paralo-Ray which caused temporary paralysis.

Louis Marx Company produced a 3.5" x 12.5" x 3.5" tall litho tin windup rocket ship version of Polaris. A piece of flint beneath the tail fin made sparks when the toy moved.

TRIVIA NOTE: In astronomy, Polaris (a.k.a. "The North Star") is the name of the star nearest the north celestial pole, located in the Little Dipper portion of the constellation Ursa Minor. It is an important star in navigation charts.