First appearance of Crystal, Ace, Jake, Max, Doc Terror, Hacker and Amber.
In a nice touch, the Orbital Interceptor beam-down stock footage has been modified to show Ace holding the cryogenic ray.
Although this is often called a "mini-series" due to only five episodes being broadcast in the first year. The Centurions' first "season" contained only stand-alone stories and not a five-part origin story. Other cartoons that followed in the mini-series tradition [like Chip'N'Dale, Ducktales and Gummi Bears] would have multi-part "first adventures" to introduce themselves to their audience and to set the show's premise and key storylines.
First appearance of the Wild Weasel, Skyknight, Cruiser, Tidal Blast, Fireforce and Orbital Interceptor weapon systems.
The major plot point of this episode, the ignition of the Van Allen Radiation Belt, was used in the 1961 film Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, which inspired the later TV show of the same name.