Flying Hunk-A-Junk

« Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy ep 47 »
"Flying Hunk-A-Junk"
Production code	147
Season	1
No. in season	47
Production company	Allspark Animation
Airdate	November 16, 2019
Writer	Peter A. Dowling
Director	Ray Quigley
Animation studio	Boulder Media Studio
Watch this episode on YouTube

When the Bots go on a satellite repair mission, their carelessly discarded trash hurtles around the Earth's orbit, growing into a problem big enough to destroy them and the Sigma.

Synopsis

The recruits are all busily tidying up when Boulder asks them to meet him at the Sigma launch pad for a space mission. Though some of the trash they've collected can be recycled, Hot Shot decides it's more expedient to dump it directly in the trash. A short time later, everyone's about the Sigma as it approaches a satellite they're going to repair. Boulder sends the recruits to retrieve the tools and parts they'll need. Hot Shot again dumps some recycling in the trash, ejecting it into space much to Wedge's horror. The other recruits follow his lead, and only Wedge responsibly takes his trash to the recycler. Boulder is surprised when Wedge arrives on the bridge long after the other recruits, but Hot Shot claims this was because Wedge did twice as much work.

As they approach the satellite, Boulder explains it's been damaged by space junk. Hoist admires Earth and when Medix is confused by an uncharted island, Boulder explains it's actually a huge mass of trash that humans couldn't be bothered recycling. As Wedge is afraid of heights, Boulder has him stay in the ship to fetch tools. Boulder heads over to the satellite to begin work. On the Sigma bridge, Whirl tells Hot Shot she's feeling guilty about not recycling, but Hot Shot isn't bothered as he doesn't believe they'll see the junk again. Unfortunately this is the cue for a giant ball of space junk to appear, heading towards the satellite.

As the satellite must be preserved at all costs, the Bots determine they need to alter the junk ball's course, and Wedge volunteers to do so. Launching himself from the Sigma, he successfully strikes the junk ball and knocks it off course, however once it's past the satellite, he finds he's unable to free himself from the junk. With the junk ball heading for Earth's atmosphere, the recruits give chase in the Sigma. It takes a boost from Hot Shot, but the Sigma catches up with the junk ball and Medix frees Wedge. They return to Boulder and the recruits admit the junk ball was created when they threw their junk into space. Back on Earth, the recruits enthusiastically start tackling the recycling.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"What's one bit of trash in the infinity of space?"

—Hot Shot

"WHAT AM I DOING?!"

—Wedge shortly after launching himself from the Sigma.

"Don't panic, Wedge, everything will be fine." [releases button] "Everything won't be fine. I've calculated the junk ball's new trajectory and it's going to fall into the Earth's upper atmosphere."
"Uh, Medix? I can still hear you!"

—Medix suffers comms failure with Wedge

Notes

Continuity notes

• TBA

Transformers references

• Boulder invokes the name of Primus in this episode.

Real-world references

• The trash island Medix spots is presumably the Great Pacific garbage patch. However, see Errors.

Errors

• The Great Pacific garbage patch is not, in fact, visible from orbit as a massive trash island. This is because the patch actually has a very low particle density of approximately 4 particles per cubic meter of water, rendering it indistinguishable from the surrounding ocean even in close-quarters observation.

Animation and technical errors

• TBA

Trivia

• The trash the recruits are disposing of includes a large number of items related to human food and even some odd food items including a watermelon and pineapple. How much does Cody eat, anyway?
• Hot Shot's jet mode can fly in space.

Foreign localization

• TBA

Home video releases

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