13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble
BBC World Service
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 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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
10 snips
Oct 26, 2026 • 41min
Trouble with Hubble: 4. Once in human history
NASA stakes its future on a daring mission to save Hubble. Astronauts capture the telescope, replace damaged instruments, and maneuver corrective optics through the vacuum of space. As the first sharp images arrive, scientists watch a crisis become a triumph, opening fresh views of distant galaxies, black holes, planets, and cosmic history.
35 snips
Oct 19, 2026 • 38min
Trouble with Hubble: 3. National disgrace
Hubble’s dream turns into a national embarrassment when its stunning images emerge blurry. NASA races to uncover how a tiny error in a seemingly perfect mirror crippled the telescope, then faces the world with devastating news. As congressional ridicule mounts, engineers devise a daring space repair mission that could restore Hubble’s vision and rescue NASA’s reputation.
17 snips
Oct 12, 2026 • 42min
Trouble with Hubble: 2. The eye opens
Kathy Sullivan, geologist, oceanographer, and pioneering NASA astronaut, recalls Hubble’s nerve-racking debut. The crew races to release the $1.6 billion telescope as a solar array jams, batteries drain, and an emergency spacewalk looms. After a tense wait, Hubble awakens, only for its first image to reveal a devastating flaw.
19 snips
Oct 5, 2026 • 34min
Trouble with Hubble: 1. A window on the universe
Kathy Sullivan, a geologist, oceanographer, and pioneering NASA astronaut, recalls preparing to deploy the Hubble Space Telescope. The mission unfolds under intense pressure after Challenger, with meticulous engineering, a tense launch, and a telescope designed to transform our view of the cosmos. Then Hubble’s first blurry images reveal a devastating flaw.
7 snips
Sep 28, 2026 • 2min
Trouble with Hubble: Trailer
Hubble promised answers to humanity’s biggest cosmic questions, but a focusing flaw nearly turned the revolutionary telescope into a disaster. Follow NASA’s high-stakes race to save its expensive window on the universe, culminating in a historic repair mission aboard Discovery.
Sep 22, 2026 • 2min
Artemis II: Quick update: New season coming soon
A new season explores the Hubble Space Telescope’s troubled launch, a daring repair mission, and the discoveries that transformed our view of the universe. Maggie Aderin-Pocock introduces what’s coming, while listeners are invited to send in their space questions for a future return.
May 4, 2026 • 42min
Artemis II: 14. The learnings
The team are back together. Astronaut Tim Peake and space scientist Maggie Aderin are joined by space journalist Kristin Fisher and Artemis II astronaut Jeremy Hansen, after his historic journey.
Jeremy reflects on the mission, adapting to life back on Earth after journeying to the far side of the Moon, and looks ahead to future Artemis missions.
The Canadian astronaut, who first spoke to 13 Minutes from quarantine before launch, answers the burning questions from the team. He describes the moment a hull breach alarm sounded 20 minutes before the Trans Lunar Injection was due to fire.
Then we get to the big one – what’s next for the Artemis programme?
Season 4 theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg and produced by Russell Emanuel, for Bleeding Fingers Music.
13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II is a BBC Audio Science production for the BBC World Service.
Presenters: Tim Peake and Maggie Aderin
Producers: Alex Mansfield and Sophie Ormiston
Series editor: Martin Smith
Commissioning team: Jon Manel, Anne Dixey and Katy Davis
42 snips
Apr 11, 2026 • 36min
Artemis II: 13. Splashdown
Rebecca Morelle, BBC News Science Editor reporting from Mission Control. Anna Fisher, former NASA astronaut and physician who flew on the Space Shuttle. They recount Orion Integrity’s splashdown and crew status. They describe parachute drama, heat shield inspection and recovery procedures. They reflect on public reaction, mission design choices and what comes next for Orion.
48 snips
Apr 10, 2026 • 40min
Artemis II: 12. Please return to your seats
Dr Phil Metzger, director of the Stephen Hawking Centre for Microgravity Research and Swamp Works co-founder, explains Avcoat heat-shield quirks, skip versus direct re-entry choices, and the physics of plasma and g-forces. He also discusses using lunar regolith for construction, dust and rocket-exhaust effects, and the inventive origins of Swamp Works.
46 snips
Apr 9, 2026 • 43min
Artemis II: 11. Science surprises
Kelsey Young, NASA lead science officer who coordinated lunar science and crew training, reflects on the flyby. She recounts surprise detections of micrometeoroid impact flashes. She contrasts human vision with camera limits and describes how astronauts were trained as field scientists. She previews how imagery and lessons will shape future Artemis surface science.
