On Earth the Doctor discovers that Styre, a Sontaran field major, is conducting cruel experiments on Human captives people from one of Earth's colonies, stranded on Earth since their ship was vaporized after answering a fake mayday signal. Styre is there in order to discover the strength of Human resistance to a planned invasion of the Galaxy. The Doctor challenges Styre to physical combat to enable Harry to remove the terrulian diode bypass transformer from the Sontaran ship. When Styre attempts to repower, he finds himself drained of energy. Earth is safe for resettlement by the Human race.
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The Doctor:  Tom Baker
Sarah Jane Smith:Elisabeth Sladen
Harry Sullivan: Ian Marter

Guest Appearances:
Styre/Marshal: Kevin Lindsay
Erak: Peter Walshe
Zake: Terry Walsh
Krans: Glyn Jones
Roth: Peter Rutherford
Vural: Donald Douglas
Prisoner: Brian Ellis
Dune: Brian Jacobs
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Producer: Phillip Hinchcliffe
Script Editor: Robert Holmes
Writer: Bob Baker, Dave Martin
Director: Rodney Bennett
Designer: Roger Murray-Leach
Costume: Barbara Kidd
Make up: Sylvia James
Visual Effects: John Friedlander, Tony Oxley
Music: Dudley Simpson

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Novelized as "Doctor Who and the Sontaran Experiment" by Ian Marter (0 426 20049 7) first published by W H Allen (now Virgin Publishing Ltd) in 1978 with cover by Roy Knipe. Target library number 56.

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"The Ark in Space" (BBCV catalogue # 4244) first released in 1989 with photomontage cover in episodic format. Uncut edition (BBCV catalogue # 5218) released in 1994. Released in box set with "Genesis of the Daleks." as a double tape in episodic format (BBCV 4643 E1201)

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Tom Baker broke his collar bone during filming, and had to use his coat and scarf to hide his neck brace during the remainder of the filming.
This was the first story to be filmed entirely on location and the first to useoutside broadcast equipment.
Working title was The Destructors
Glyn Jones, who played the part of Krans, also wrote "The Space Museum".

All four episodes exist in color on videotape.

Hound Tor, near Manaton, Dartmour, Devon. (26 September - 2 October 1974)
Headlan Warren, near Postbridge, Devon. (26-28 September 1974)

Episode 2 - Watch when the Doctor is fighting with Styre: in the long shots he's standing up straight, but in the close-ups, he's crouched over.
Episode 2 - When fighting with Styre, the Doctor manages to knock his head sideways.
Episode 2 - Apparently a car and a farm cottage can be spotted in the background at some point.