
13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle
Epic space stories. From the first Moon landing, to Apollo 13, to the Space Shuttle. Told by the people who made them happen.NEW: 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-Pocock tells the awe-inspiring story of the programme that brought triumph and tragedy.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 and co-written by Kevin Fong.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.13 Minutes is produced by the BBC Audio Science Unit for the BBC World Service. Season 3 theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg and produced by Russell Emanuel, for Bleeding Fingers Music.
Latest episodes

Feb 19, 2020 • 4min
Apollo 13: Trailer, The Countdown
Explore the tense moments of the Apollo 13 mission as astronauts face a life-threatening crisis in space. Witness their bravery and problem-solving skills in the cold depths of space, battling failing systems and uncertainty in a race against time.

Dec 23, 2019 • 22min
13 Minutes to the Moon: Bonus - The making of the music
Hans Zimmer discusses creating the theme music for a space-themed podcast. He explores the impact of music on imagination and the importance of coffee. The episode delves into the collaboration process and emotional connections in music creation, aiming to evoke deep connections with listeners. It also reflects on the wonder, drama, and emotions of the moon landing mission.

Jul 19, 2019 • 59min
13 Minutes to the Moon: 12. Live from Houston
Reflecting on President Kennedy's Moon speech at Rice University in Houston, Apollo astronauts discuss challenges faced during the Apollo program, evolution of technology in space exploration, hurdles for NASA's future exploration, intense moments of Apollo 11 moon landing, and psychological impact of space travel.

Jul 14, 2019 • 19min
13 Minutes to the Moon: 11. The 13 minutes
Explore the historical significance of the audio recordings from Apollo 11's mission control. Hear the tension and triumph of the last 13 minutes of the lunar descent. Discover the technical details and challenges faced during the flight. Experience the intense final minutes of the Apollo 11 mission as the Lunar Module lands on the moon's surface.

Jul 14, 2019 • 46min
13 Minutes to the Moon: 10. ‘For all mankind’
Guests on this episode include Apollo 11 astronaut Charlie Duke, pioneer of mission control Poppy Northcutt, former director of NASA's Johnson Space Center George Abbey, and more. They discuss topics such as radio static issues during the descent, communication challenges faced by mission control, the significance of the computer in the success of the mission, the tense final descent to the lunar surface, and Capcom Charlie Duke's desk on July 20th, 1969.

Jul 7, 2019 • 39min
13 Minutes to the Moon: 9. Tranquility Base
Experience the nail-biting final moments of Apollo 11's mission as Neil Armstrong faces communication issues and dwindling fuel. Armstrong takes manual control to ensure a safe landing, showcasing the crucial partnership between human decision-making and computer assistance. Reflect on Armstrong's iconic moonwalk and stay tuned for future episodes delving deeper into this historic moment.

Jun 30, 2019 • 41min
13 Minutes to the Moon: 8. ‘We’re go for powered descent’
The 13 minutes begin. Eagle is going too fast. There are communications problems. We have met the people and heard about the Apollo 11 technology, now the descent is underway. This is the full story and it is a leap into the unknown. With Kevin Fong.
Starring:
Charlie Duke
Steve Bales
Don Eyles
Courtesy of the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project:
Neil Armstrong
Gene Kranz
Jay Greene
Jack Garman
Bob Carlton
Theme music by Hans Zimmer for Bleeding Fingers Music
#13MinutestotheMoon
www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes

Jun 23, 2019 • 42min
13 Minutes to the Moon: 7. Michael Collins - third man
Explore Michael Collins' crucial role as the third man in Apollo 11, navigating the spacecraft with precision and skill. Experience the tense moments of the powered descent to the lunar surface and the awe-inspiring sight of the moon up close. Delve into Collins' solo journey around the moon and his interactions with fellow crew members, highlighting the intense training and responsibilities faced by astronauts on this historic mission.

Jun 16, 2019 • 47min
13 Minutes to the Moon: 6. Saving 1968
Explore the turbulent year of 1968 and how NASA took a monumental risk with Apollo 8, venturing further from Earth than ever before. Dive into the Apollo 8 mission, the astronauts' experience orbiting the moon, and witnessing the far side of the moon. Reflect on Earth's smallness and the iconic 'Earthrise' photo, as well as the impact of Apollo 8 on humanity's perspective of the universe.

Jun 9, 2019 • 48min
13 Minutes to the Moon: 5. The fourth astronaut
Learn about the groundbreaking computer that guided Apollo 11 to the moon, the first digital portable general purpose computer. Explore the innovative work of MIT that paved the way for the digital age. Hear from key figures involved in this technological feat, including Margaret Hamilton and Eldon Hall.