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)