Space
A collection of radio documentary programmes broadcast on the BBC World Service, with one thing in common – space.
Latest episodes
Dec 31, 2015 • 27min
How to Survive in Space: Deep Space
How science, engineering and medicine come together to get fragile human life safely into space. Where should our ambitions lie? Originally broadcast 31 December 2015.
Dec 30, 2015 • 27min
How to Survive in Space: Into Orbit
How science, engineering and medicine are trying to understand the limits of human physiology to ensure survival in space. Originally broadcast 30 December 2015.
Dec 27, 2015 • 9min
The Apollo 13 Space Emergency
In 1970, three American astronauts were heading to the moon when disaster struck. Astronaut Fred Haise describes what happened. Originally broadcast 14 April 2010.
Dec 26, 2015 • 18min
Why Does The Moon Fascinate Us So Much?
Why has the moon fascinated humans for so long? The moon in culture, how it affects life on Earth and what the moon is really like. Originally broadcast 21 July 2014.
Dec 23, 2015 • 27min
Sounds of Space 2: Deep Space
Take a sonic tour of the universe - this time, deep into the cosmos. Some sounds are recorded sound, others are data that have been sonified. Originally broadcast 7 July 2015.
Dec 21, 2015 • 9min
The First Woman in Space
Salute Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova. In June 1963, she boarded Vostok 6 at Baikonur cosmodrome and went into orbit. Originally broadcast 21 June, 2013.
Dec 20, 2015 • 9min
Launching the Hubble Space Telescope
In 1990 the Hubble Telescope was launched into space, but the first pictures it sent back to earth were out of focus. Originally broadcast 23 April 2010.
Dec 18, 2015 • 27min
Sounds of Space 1: The Solar System
The podcast explores sounds in space and how they are created from sonifications of data. It discusses the vibrations of the sun and their study of temperature and motion. The chapter also covers Mercury's magnetic field and Earth's unique characteristics. The importance of Earth's magnetosphere and its protection against solar wind is explained. Lastly, the podcast touches on the mysterious sound of a comet's magnetic field and the violent storms on Jupiter.
Dec 18, 2015 • 27min
Space Medicine
The podcast explores the physical and psychological challenges of being in space, including the impact on bones, muscles, heart, vessels, inner ear, and sense of balance. It discusses the potential health concerns for future space missions and the challenges of movement and height measurement. The three months of darkness in space affect individuals' sleep patterns, leading to cognitive impairment and irritability. It also explores the psychiatric problems faced during a winter in Antarctica and the importance of connections and communication to cope with isolation. The podcast discusses the difficulties of communication in space missions, the physiological changes experienced by astronauts, and the therapeutic applications of the overview effect.
Dec 17, 2015 • 27min
Enceladus: Is There Life On Saturn's Moon?
Saturn's moon Enceladus may harbor life beneath its icy surface, with geysers blasting water into space. The podcast explores the discoveries made by the Cassini space probe, including a potential salty ocean and the presence of liquid water. It discusses the evidence of hot springs, the search for signs of life, and the proposal for a new mission to Enceladus. Exciting advancements in technology could lead to detecting signs of life and potentially bringing back samples, revealing a separate origin environment for microbial life.
