NEW from the BBC’s space podcast: A revolutionary telescope and the tiny flaw that almost destroyed the dream. Hubble transformed our understanding of the universe. Maggie Aderin tells the dramatic story of one of the most ambitious scientific instruments ever built - and how it almost ended in disaster. Already delayed by years and millions of dollars over budget, the Hubble Space Telescope is finally ready to launch and change history. It has been heralded as a window on the universe, and promises to answer the most fundamental questions ever asked: How did it all begin? Where are we going? Are we alone? But little does Nasa know that the curvature of one of its mirrors is off by the equivalent of one-fiftieth of the width of a human hair. The result? Blurry images. It will need to be repaired – in space! Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg and produced by Russell Emanuel, for Bleeding Fingers Music. 13 Minutes is the space podcast from the BBC World Service, telling epic space stories. It’s produced by the BBC Audio Science Unit. Previous seasons: Season 1: 13 Minutes to the Moon. The first Moon landing. In the final dramatic 13-minute descent to the Moon, the Apollo 11 mission came close to going badly wrong. Communication was breaking down, technology was failing and fuel was running out. This is the story of how the first Moon landing was saved. Presented by Kevin Fong. Season 2: Apollo 13. Apollo 13 should have been the third Moon landing, but after an explosion, it almost ended in tragedy. Told by the people who flew it and saved it. Presented by Kevin Fong. Season 3: The Space Shuttle. A sci-fi dream that changed spaceflight forever. From the boldest test flight in history to one of Nasa’s darkest days – the Challenger disaster. Space scientist Maggie Aderin tells the awe-inspiring story of the programme that brought triumph and tragedy. Season 4: Artemis II. Artemis and the return to the Moon. As Nasa returned to the Moon for the first time in more than half a century, we followed the mission with a new episode every day. Four astronauts – on a spacecraft called Orion - looped around the Moon. They went further from Earth than any human in history. The story of Artemis II is told by space scientist Maggie Aderin, British astronaut Tim Peake, and US space journalist Kristin Fisher.
The Hubble Space Telescope represents a monumental leap in astronomy, designed to capture pristine light from the ancient universe by bypassing atmospheric distortion. This narrative follows the intense preparation of astronauts like Kathy Sullivan, who meticulously ready the telescope for deployment, only to face a su...
The Hubble Space Telescope, once envisioned as the "greatest thing since Galileo," promised to answer fundamental questions about the origin of the universe and the existence of extraterrestrial life. Despite its eventual transformation of astronomical understanding, the project's early history was defined by near-cata...
The Artemis II mission successfully demonstrated the viability of crewed lunar exploration, marked by seamless technical execution and profound human connection. Beyond technical achievements, such as the effective performance of the European Service Module and Orion’s heat shield, the crew’s raw emotional response hig...
The podcast episode centers on reflections and discussions surrounding the Artemis II mission splashdown, with a focus on the public's enthusiastic response and the technical aspects of the mission. Concerns about the extended drogue chute deployment and sat phone difficulties during crew extraction are raised, alongsi...
The podcast episode focuses on the Artemis II mission's re-entry process, detailing the critical steps and challenges involved. It covers the reconfiguration of the Orion spacecraft, the expected loss of communication, and the intense heat and G-forces the astronauts will experience. The discussion highlights the impor...
The Artemis II mission nears its end as the crew prepares for re-entry, currently traveling at 2,600 miles per hour but expected to reach 25,000 mph upon return. The crew appreciates the flywheel exercise machine, crucial for maintaining cardiovascular and muscle strength in microgravity. Space journalist Kristin Fishe...
The Artemis II mission and China's lunar program, Chang'e, are compared, highlighting their differing approaches to establishing a sustained human presence on the moon. NASA's Artemis program aims for a swift return to the lunar surface, emphasizing international and commercial partnerships, while China's Chang'e progr...
The Artemis II mission's lunar fly-by is celebrated for its scientific achievements, emotional impact, and unifying effect, evoking a sense of global participation reminiscent of the pandemic's early days. The podcast highlights the crew's record-breaking distance from Earth and the unique solar eclipse they witnessed....
The Artemis II mission's lunar flyby is the focus, with discussions on the crew's preparations, the significance of the lunar flyby day, and the upcoming communications blackout. The broadcast includes a special message from Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke to the Artemis II crew. The panel explores the differences bet...
The podcast episode focuses on the Artemis II mission, particularly the challenges and advancements in space travel. It addresses the broken toilet incident, highlighting the lack of privacy for astronauts and the ingenuity required to fix the problem. The episode explores the importance of the Orion Crew Survival Syst...
The podcast episode focuses on the Artemis II mission, specifically addressing the challenges and opportunities related to space debris and lunar resources. It highlights the growing problem of space junk, including active and inactive satellites, and the potential dangers they pose to spacecraft like Integrity and the...
The podcast episode focuses on the Artemis II mission, specifically the translunar injection and the spacecraft's journey to the moon. It highlights the "overview effect" experienced by the crew as they view Earth from space, with the discussion touching on the speed and altitude changes during the mission. The show fu...
The Artemis II mission launch is the central focus, with hosts and a space journalist sharing their experiences and excitement. The discussion covers the emotional impact of witnessing the launch, especially after delays and the end of the space shuttle program. Glitches during the countdown, such as issues with the fl...
The podcast "Artemis II" previews the upcoming crewed mission around the Moon, focusing on launch preparations and introducing the four astronauts. Kristin Fisher reports live from the launch site, detailing favorable weather conditions and the commencement of fuel loading, a critical phase prone to technical issues. T...
The Artemis II mission, NASA's first crewed mission around the Moon in over 50 years, is the central focus. The podcast features space journalist Kristin Fisher, reporting live from Kennedy Space Center, detailing the electric atmosphere and preparations for the launch, including weather updates and potential traffic i...
The podcast focuses on the Artemis II mission, humanity's return to the moon after over 50 years. It explores the political and public support needed for sustained lunar exploration, highlighting the importance of continuity across presidential terms. The discussion covers the technical challenges, including hydrogen a...
NASA has successfully repaired a helium leak in the rocket intended for the Artemis II mission, clearing the path for a potential launch as early as April 1st. This mission will carry four astronauts more than 400,000 kilometers from Earth, performing a slingshot maneuver around the far side of the Moon to mark a new e...
The BBC Space podcast, 13 Minutes, transitions from historical storytelling to real-time reporting with the upcoming Artemis II mission, marking humanity's first return to lunar orbit in over fifty years. This mission aims to send four astronauts further from Earth than any previous humans, signaling the dawn of a new ...
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