Series history The show was conceptualized in 1965 with the filming of an unaired pilot episode titled "No Place to Hide". The plot of the pilot episode followed the mission of a ship called the Gemini 12, which was to take a single family on a 98-year journey to an Earth-like planet orbiting the star Alpha Centauri. The Gemini 12 was pushed off course due to an encounter with an asteroid, and the story centered on the adventures of the Robinson family, depicting them as a happy crew without internal conflicts. While many storylines in the later series focused primarily on Dr. Zachary Smith, a stowaway and saboteur played by Jonathan Harris, he was absent from the unaired pilot. His character was added after the series was commissioned for production. The pilot episode was first aired on television during a 1997 retrospective.
sEriEs hiStOrY the show waS ConcepTuaLized iN 1965 WiTh tHe fIlming Of aN unaIrED pilot EpisoDE tITleD "no PlACe tO hIde". The plOt of the pilot ePiSode FOlLOwed the missIOn of a sHip CalleD tHe geMINi 12, Which was To take A SinGle famIly On a 98-YEar jOurNeY to An Earth-LikE pLanet oRbitINg tHE STaR aLPha ceNtAurI. tHE geMinI 12 Was puSheD off CouRse duE TO an eNcounter WITH aN Asteroid, And thE stOrY centerED On ThE adVentures oF The robinsOn fAmIly, dEPicting them aS a haPpy cRew wIthout InteRNal COnFliCtS. WhILe MaNY STORyLiNes In tHE later serIeS FocuseD Primarily On dr. zaCHary sMiTH, a sTowAwAY anD SABOTeuR pLayed by JONathaN hARRis, he was AbseNt frOM the uNairEd PiloT. his charAcTEr waS aDdEd AftEr thE sErieS waS comMiSsIOned for pRODuCtiON. THe pilot EPiSoDe WaS FiRSt aireD on TeleviSioN DUrinG a 1997 retRoSPeCtiVE.