The character of Issac Gampu is almost a polar opposite to Jonathan Harris's earlier role in Lost in Space. Whereas Dr. Smith was a foolish ,selfish coward, who often caused whatever predicament the Robinsons had to solve that week, Cmdr. Isaac Gampu was wise, studious and brave. It is my opinion that the memory of this character was lingering in the back of the minds of the writers for Star trek, the Next generation, when they were writing for Capt. Picard. There are strong similarities in both characters. It could also be that the archetype of a wise, noble leader inspired both sets of writers. It is a testament to Harris' talent as an actor that he could play both characters so memorably.

I must agree with the first part of the last reviewer's comments, regarding the budget and props of the show. However, I believe that the reviewer missed the point entirely regarding sending the kid's on missions; this was a kid's show, directed at a younger audience, and the hero's of the show were other kids. The audience could imagine themselves having those adventures and saving the day. What would the point be if adults gave the orders and were the ones who set things right? Realistically speaking, it never made sense on Star Trek that the captain and first officer went on the landing parties/away teams, but they were the lead actors. That does not happen in our modern military. Space Academy was a TV show.

I had just been introduced to 'Lost In Space' not to many years earlier {our Portland, Ore. ABC affiliate station aired the Lost in Space series around the mid 1970's. (I think it started showing the series around 1973 or '74)}When Space Acadamy came along and was airied in the Saturday morning time slot along with other cartoon and kid shows. I think the ABC station in Portland had just stopped showing the 'Lost in Space' series a year or two earlier and I had given up hope of seeing it comeback when along came Space Acadamy. Although I thought the series was a little corny at times (It could've been a really good series if the writers/people in charge had spent a little more time with the stories and/or developed the (Acadamy) series and/or characters a little further). The potential was definately there. I was very grateful to see Jonathan Harris once again, and this time the show he was on wasn't an older TV series that was in reruns, but a current one that was still in production; when I first saw it. It would have been really great if maybe some, if not all, of the cast members from 'Lost in Space', could have made a few guest appearences, and maybe even one or more of them, join the series* to help Jonathan guide the cadets. I was so glad to see Jonathan Harris again and wish things had went much better for the 'Space Academy' series and Jonathan Harris. By John B{oy}

The Space Academy idea is not new to sci-fi and so many independent writers have developed their own "academy" or shared with a previously developed idea and created parallel stories. I find that this series was underdeveloped in character and plot. Boy, would I like to either see more of the same idea (parameters of what a Space Academy "should be")or resurrect this one. The old cast members could be instructors with a new Blue Team...since young and charismatic continues to be the theme of current producers. This series was important to me. Not as a Jr. Star Trek but as a never tried before live action sci-fi series-with child actors. It allowed viewers (like children)to get a taste of sci-fi (and the possible future-I like Ark II for the same reason)that readers have been experiencing for years. As an impressionable young adult at the time, this type of series cemented my love not only for tv but for reading at a time I thought that I did not want to put much time into opening a book. It gave me the world and outer space,too. Can't beat that!