Possible Clues:

• Stop at nothing
• Activity preceding liftoff
• Declining introduction to space programme
• A procession of figures going backwards?
• Score that's low for programme on the box
• If the Wye, in short, were there, the blastoff would be in Ulster
• First programme seen on Channel 4
• One has decreasing numbers attending a launch
• ... in the period just prior of firing nobleman in adversity?
• Launch lead-in