Charles Van Lyden

Senior Astronaut Charles "Charlie" Van Lyden (or Van Leyden) was a British astronaut.

Biography
Van Lyden was sent in Recovery 7 to rescue Joe Lefee and Frank Michaels after seven months with no contact from Mars Probe 7.

Upon linking up with the craft, he was captured by aliens and taken to Lefee and Michaels on an alien ship, and hypnotised to believe that he and the other astronauts were in Space Control's quarantine area on Earth. They were returned thanks to the Third Doctor's negotiations. (TV: The Ambassadors of Death)

Appearance
Van Lyden was a stolid-looking young man with fair (PROSE: The Ambassadors of Death) or brown hair. (TV: The Ambassadors of Death)

Behind the scenes

 * In Terrance Dicks's novelisation, Van Lyden's name is instead spelled "Van Leyden".