13 Minutes to the Moon

The astronauts count down to flying a brand-new spacecraft for the very first time. If they pull it off, they will earn a place in space history.The rocket is built. The astronauts are trained. Mission control is ready. Space Shuttle Columbia is about to attempt the unheard of. A crewed test flight.
It's 12 April 1981. The morning of launch for the very first space shuttle mission. The shuttle is sitting on the launchpad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. And strapped into their seats on the flight deck of orbiter Columbia are commander John Young and pilot Bob Crippen.Everyone at Nasa has been waiting almost a decade for this day. It’s taken an army of designers, engineers, ground crew, flight controllers, and backroom staff to get to this point. To bring this vehicle to life. Will this new machine fly? This episode contains scenes some listeners may find upsetting.Some scenes in this series use recreated sound effects.13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle is a BBC Audio Science Unit production for BBC World Service. Hosted by space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock.Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg, and produced by Russell Emanuel, for Bleeding Fingers Music.Archive:
Launch of STS-1, BBC, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, 1981
Mission audio and oral histories, Nasa History Office

Can Nasa build the most complex flying machine in space history? The plan is to create a permanent human presence in space. It’s Spring 1969 - two months before the launch of Apollo 11 – the first US mission to land humans on the moon. But meanwhile, hidden away from public view, Nasa is thinking the unthinkable. Maverick engineer Dr Max Faget is already a legend within Nasa. He’s fascinated by what could be next for human spaceflight. In a backroom, of Building 36 at Johnson Space Center, he invites a handful of engineers to a meeting. One of them is Ivy Hooks, a mathematician and engineer. And one of the first female engineers at Nasa. Some scenes in this series use recreated sound effects.13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle is a BBC Audio Science Unit production for BBC World Service.Hosted by space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock.Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg, and produced by Russell Emanuel, for Bleeding Fingers Music.Archive:
Richard Nixon launches Nasa’s space shuttle programme, CBS News, 1972
Mission audio and oral histories, Nasa History Office

To launch like a rocket and land like a plane. The space shuttle: A sci-fi dream that became reality and changed spaceflight forever. Told by the Nasa astronauts, engineers, scientists and support staff who made it happen. Our multi award-winning podcast returns on 14 July 2025 with: 13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle. Presented by space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock. She tells the story of triumph and tragedy, and the human story behind the technology and scientific endeavour. A BBC Audio Science Unit production for the BBC World Service. Season 3 theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg, and produced by Russell Emanuel, for Bleeding Fingers Music.Archive: Mission audio and oral histories, Nasa History Office.

Why everyone wants to get back to the moon - a special episode with Kevin Fong. The United States has just returned to the Moon for the first time in 50 years. But they are not the only country in the world with their sights set on space exploration. Why are countries like India, China, Japan and Saudi Arabia trying to complete their own lunar landings? Katya Adler speaks with Kevin Fong and Jonathan Amos the BBC’s science correspondent.

News about the next season and our live episode recording at The Podcast Show 2023 in London. What would you like to ask Nasa space shuttle astronaut and engineer Kay Hire? Kay became the 34th woman to fly in space when she flew as a mission specialist aboard Space Shuttle Columbia. She returned to orbit aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. What questions do you have for her about the space shuttle, or perhaps the plans to return to the Moon and even reach Mars? You can submit your question via our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes
#13MinutestotheMoon

Hans Zimmer in a special episode about creating the 13 Minutes to the Moon theme music. The Oscar and Grammy-winning composer talks music, space and the importance of knowing how to make a really good cup of coffee.
He says, “All we are doing with the music is we’re opening the door a little crack and saying ‘OK, now let your imagination run free’”.
With Kevin Fong.
Theme music by Hans Zimmer for Bleeding Fingers Music.
#13MinutestotheMoon
www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes

“Houston, we’ve had a problem.” To ignite catastrophe would take just the flick of a single switch. Why Nasa’s third bid to land on the Moon was flawed from the start.
#13MinutestotheMoon
For videos and more space stories: www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes
Presented by Kevin Fong
Archive: Nasa and CBS
Starring:
Jim Lovell
Marilyn Lovell
Fred Haise
John Aaron
Gerry Griffin
Gene Kranz, courtesy of the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project
Charlie Duke
Jay Lovell
Sy Liebergot
Jack Lousma
Written by Kevin Fong and Andrew Luck-Baker
Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg for Bleeding Fingers Music
BBC Radio Science Unit for the BBC World Service
This episode was updated on 16 March 2020.

“We were being poisoned by our own exhalation.” Carbon dioxide threatens to kill the crew. Mission control must improvise as the most fragile system of all is under threat: the astronauts themselves. #13MinutestotheMoon
For a film about how the crew made the makeshift CO2 adaptors: www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes
Presented by Kevin Fong.
Archive: Nasa
Starring:
Jim Lovell
Merlin Merritt
Anthony England
Ed Smylie, courtesy of the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project
Fred Haise
Marilyn Lovell
Ken Mattingly
Charles A Berry
Joe Kerwin
Gerry Griffin
Written by Kevin Fong and Chris Browning
Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg for Bleeding Fingers Music
BBC Radio Science Unit for the BBC World Service

Jump on board a doomed mission to the Moon. Apollo 13: the extraordinary story, told by the people who flew it and saved it. Lift off is on 9 March.
#13MinutestotheMoon
Presenter: Kevin Fong
Written by Kevin Fong and Andrew Luck-Baker
Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg for Bleeding Fingers Music

The crew are off course, 200,000 miles from home and without a guidance computer. Their lives now depend on their flying skills - and Jim Lovell’s wristwatch. #13MinutestotheMoon
For more Apollo films and photos: www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes
Presented by Kevin Fong.
Archive: Nasa
Starring
Chuck Deiterich
Jim Lovell
Poppy Northcutt
Fred Haise
Jim Kelly
John Aaron
Joe Kerwin
Written by Kevin Fong and Chris Browning
Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg for Bleeding Fingers Music
BBC Radio Science Unit for the BBC World Service

The astronauts are fighting for their lives. As the oxygen level plummets, they must escape to the lunar lander. It's a desperate act of survival for which the crew has never trained. #13MinutestotheMoon
See our film about the Lovell family: www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes
Presented by Kevin Fong.
Archive: Nasa
Starring:
Glynn Lunney
Ken Mattingly (courtesy of the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project)
Merlin Merritt
Jim Lovell
John Aaron
Fred Haise
John Devaney
Jerry Bostick
Poppy Northcutt
George Kalan
Dave Reed
Chuck Deiterich
Marilyn Lovell
Susan Lovell
Jay Lovell
Written by Kevin Fong and Mark Rickards
Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg for Bleeding Fingers Music
BBC Radio Science Unit for the BBC World Service

“We were in deep, deep trouble.” This is Mission Control like you’ve never heard it before. After the explosion, denial and disbelief turn to dread.
#13MinutestotheMoon
Watch our videos: www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes
Presented by Kevin Fong.
Archive: Nasa
Starring:
Jim Lovell
Jack Lousma
Gene Kranz, courtesy of the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project
Sy Liebergot
Bob Heselmeyer, courtesy of the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project
Fred Haise
John Aaron
Marilyn Lovell
Written by Kevin Fong and Andrew Luck-Baker
Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg for Bleeding Fingers Music
BBC Radio Science Unit for the BBC World Service

Power must be brutally rationed after the crew fly around the Moon. As systems are switched off, their cold, dark ship is reduced to little more than a husk coasting in space. #13MinutestotheMoon
Watch videos about the Apollo 13 mission: www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes
Presented by Kevin Fong.
Archive: Nasa
Starring:
Gerry Griffin
Jim Kelly
Gene Kranz, courtesy of the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project
John Aaron
Jim Lovell
Fred Haise
Dave Reed
Jerry Bostick
Chuck Deiterich
Merlin Merritt
Bill Peters
Written by Kevin Fong and Mark Rickards
Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg for Bleeding Fingers Music
BBC Radio Science Unit for the BBC World Service

Special episode with Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell. An extended interview.
The true space pioneer talks to Kevin Fong about everything from the shocking moment of the explosion to the enormous relief of the splashdown.
#13MinutestotheMoon
Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg for Bleeding Fingers Music

Special episode with Nasa legend, flight controller John Aaron.
This extended interview ranges from John first learning about the explosion, to
his doubts and fears during Apollo 13¹s descent through the Earth¹s
atmosphere. #13MinutestotheMoon
Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg for Bleeding Fingers
Music

“I still have nightmares about this.” Can the crew survive the dangers of re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere? An error could see them either incinerated or becoming lost forever in deep space. #13MinutestotheMoon
For more Apollo films and photos: www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes
Presented by Kevin Fong.
Archive: Nasa
Starring
Jim Lovell
John Aaron
Dave Reed
Hal Loden
Jerry Bostick
Jim Kelly
Fred Haise
Charlie Duke
Joe Kerwin
Gene Kranz, courtesy of the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project
Chuck Deiterich
Marilyn Lovell
Gerry Griffin
Written by Kevin Fong and Andrew Luck-Baker
Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg for Bleeding Fingers Music
BBC Radio Science Unit for the BBC World Service

Emily’s grandad worked on the bomb that fell on Hiroshima. Could another man – Leo Szilard - have stopped it? This is the new series from the BBC World Service – search for The Bomb wherever you get your podcasts.

“We choose to go.” The season finale comes from where President John F Kennedy made his famous Moon speech to rally the US behind the Apollo programme. The venue is Rice University in Houston, where we reflect on one of the greatest achievements in human history. And we consider a future return to the moon.
With Kevin Fong.
Starring:
John Aaron
Gerry Griffin
Walt Cunningham
Peggy Whitson
Theme music by Hans Zimmer for Bleeding Fingers Music
#13MinutestotheMoon
www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes
This episode is being released 50 years after the first moon landing.

History as it happened, uninterrupted: every word, every crackle, the tension and triumph. Hear how Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to reach the Moon. This is Nasa’s archive recording of Capcom Charlie Duke’s communications loop from 20 July 1969.
#13MinutestotheMoon

History as it happened, explained. Kevin Fong guides us through the descent to the Moon from start to finish, using Capcom Charlie Duke’s communications loop, from Nasa’s archive.
And we hear memories and reflections on Apollo 11 from:
Charlie Duke
Poppy Northcutt
John Aaron
Jim Lovell
Margaret Hamilton
George Abbey
Michael Collins
Bill Carpentier
Theme music by Hans Zimmer for Bleeding Fingers Music
#13MinutestotheMoon
www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes