Thunderbirds Are Go Episode 9 Slingshot Episode Title:Slingshot.Episode Description:A large solar flare causes a malfunction at a mining operation on an asteroid, sending it careening towards the sun and endangering its only crewman, Ned Tedford. Alan and Kayo deploy Thunderbird 3, but another solar flare knocks out their sensors and communications. Although they land in the mine, using the asteroid (now too close to the sun) as a shield, they soon have to find a way to alter the asteroid's trajectory so that it slingshots around the sun instead of crashing into it - which is further complicated by the discovery that Thunderbird 3's low fuel supply from the second flare, could make it impossible to return to Earth.