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PODCAST

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

history documentary

All Episodes

33:36

Trouble with Hubble: 1. A window on the universe

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/10/05

Our view of the universe could be transformed by one of the most ambitious scientific instruments ever built but a terrible disaster strikes Nasa. After decades of meticulous planning, will the Hubble Space Telescope make into space? Nasa is in a state of emergency. The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986 means the space agency is under intense scrutiny. Its reputation is wounded, and public interest in spaceflight is beginning to fade. It is betting on a feat of engineering genius: the

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2:20

Trouble with Hubble: Trailer

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/09/28

Buckle up for the latest epic story from the BBC’s space podcast. The Hubble Space Telescope was revolutionary but a flaw almost ruined the dream. It was hoped it would answer the most fundamental questions ever asked: How did it all begin? Where are we going? Are we alone? Maggie Aderin tells the story of how the telescope that transformed our understanding of the universe, almost ended in disaster. Launches on 5 October. 13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble is a BBC Audio Science Unit production for

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1:33

Artemis II: Quick update: New season coming soon

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/09/22

Some big news: We’ve been making a new season. It’s about Nasa’s Hubble Space Telescope. If you haven’t already, follow or subscribe, so you will get the full trailer automatically. That will be published next week.Maggie Aderin will tell the story of how the telescope that transformed our understanding of the universe, almost ended in disaster.13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble launches on 5 October 2026.In the meantime, please keep sending us your questions: 13minutes@bbc.co.ukWe’ll be back to answer

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41:48

Artemis II: 14. The Learnings

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/05/04

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

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35:41

Artemis II: 13. Splashdown

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/04/11

After 9 days, 1 hour, 32 minutes and 15 seconds and 1.1 million kilometres of travel, the Orion “Integrity” probe splashed down successfully on April 11th at 00:07:32 UTC (GMT). Tim Peake, Maggie Aderin, Kristin Fisher, Rebecca Morelle and the 13 Minutes podcast touches down with this episode. We are also joined by Nasa legend and former shuttle astronaut, Dr Anna Fisher to reflect on the mission. 13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II will return. Season 4 theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg

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40:10

Artemis II: 12. Please return to your seats

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/04/10

The Artemis II mission hurtles towards re-entry and splashdown. The 13 Minutes crew run through the schedule that includes 28,864 mph, searing heat, 11 parachutes, and 3.9g forces.Long-time Nasa scientist Dr Phil Metzger talks about the issue of AVCOAT – the ablative coating that will shield the capsule’s flat underside. And we also talk about his work at Nasa’s “Swamp Works” where much was studied about building structures on the moon for a moonbase.Season 4 theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian

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42:32

Artemis II: 11. Science surprises

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/04/09

The Artemis II crew are getting ever closer to home and preparing for re-entry. Hosts astronaut Tim Peake and space scientist Maggie Aderin are joined by space journalist Kristin Fisher, who shares the latest updates from the mission. Plus, we answer more of your burning questions. And Dr Kelsey Young, lead science officer and lunar science lead for Artemis II, shares her excitement about the crew’s lunar observations so far. She tells us what she’s been surprised by, what new science we’ve already

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29:07

Artemis II: 10. How to train your astronaut

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/04/08

After all the excitement of the lunar fly-by, the Artemis II crew are taking a breather, and have a long-distance call with the astronauts on board the International Space Station.Besides the Artemis II and ISS crews, there are other humans up in space too. China’s Tiangong space station is currently home to three taikonauts. Hosts astronaut Tim Peake and space scientist Maggie Aderin are joined by space journalist Kristin Fisher to discuss China’s progress in their lunar program so far. And

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44:50

Artemis II: 9. Bye bye, fly-by

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/04/07

It’s been a busy 24 hours for the Artemis II crew. They have completed a lunar fly-by, surpassed the furthest distance humans have ever travelled from planet Earth, gone through a communications black out period, and witnessed a lunar eclipse. Host space scientist Maggie Aderin is joined by space journalist Kristin Fisher who, like many of us, stayed up to watch the fly-by. And BBC News science editor Rebecca Morelle calls in from Houston to give us the latest from mission control. The first

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39:58

Artemis II: 8. Final approach

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/04/06

Now thoroughly within the lunar gravitational sphere of influence, Artemis II’s crew perform final preparations for the flyby and nearest approach. Very shortly they will break the human distance record from earth.But listeners ask, why will they go further than Apollo 13 went? Space scientist Maggie Aderin and astronaut Tim Peake are joined by expert guest space journalist Kristin Fisher to explore. The astronauts will shortly be the only people to see a unique solar eclipse, survey parts of the

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39:53

Artemis II: 7. A family photo

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/04/05

With the toilet venting problem endangering the spacecraft Integrity’s Michelin rating, BBC Science Editor Rebecca Morelle drops by to update us on the unmentionables. The team answer more listeners questions; what do we mean by zero-g, and will there ever be permanent relay satellites around the moon to prevent the forthcoming communications blackout?Tim Peake, Kristin Fisher and Maggie Aderin discuss the impact on mission architecture that the plurality of commercial launch providers are having

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36:15

Artemis II: 6. Halfway There

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/04/04

Nasa’s Artemis II crew are now closer to the Moon than they are to Earth. Hosts astronaut Tim Peake and space scientist Maggie Aderin are joined by space journalist Kristin Fisher, who gives us the latest on the crew’s momentous journey, as the Integrity spacecraft begins its gentle deceleration before the point when the moon’s gravity starts pulling it more strongly than the earth’s.And the team answer a question from listener Mark. Has Artemis II had to dodge space junk on its way to the Moon, and

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34:22

Artemis II: 5. No Going Back

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/04/03

The loop round the Moon target is confirmed by the last major engine burn of the mission. It’s the first time the European Service Module engine has been used this way.Sian Cleaver of Airbus Defence and Space, who has been central to the construction of the service module joins Tim, Maggie and Kristin to talk about flapping solar panels and future, even more ambitious, Artemis missions.Season 4 theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg and produced by Russell Emanuel, for Bleeding Fingers

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26:19

Artemis II: 4. Launch after-party

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/04/02

The moment we’ve all been waiting for… Nasa’s Artemis II mission has launched.Next up is the big decision whether to commit to the lunar flyby and the big engine burn that will need. Testing systems and life-support continues, with engine burns slowly lifting the height of the earth orbit, raising the speed at which the Trans Lunar Injection (TLI) leap into history can begin.Season 4 theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg and produced by Russell Emanuel, for Bleeding Fingers Music. 13

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41:19

Artemis II: 3. Man around the Moon

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/04/01

Astronaut Jeremy Hansen talks to the BBC before his first space launch on Artemis II. What will lift-off be like and how will he feel? He joins BBC Science Editor Rebecca Morelle and our host, astronaut Tim Peake, as we move ever closer to the historic mission around the Moon.Space scientist and host Maggie Aderin will also give her insight, with just hours to go before the expected launch. The team are joined by space journalist Kristin Fisher, with all the latest from the Kennedy Space Center in

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27:25

Artemis II: 2. Rocket man

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/03/31

Nasa’s Artemis II mission looks set to launch towards the Moon on April 1st, after months of delays.Presenters Tim Peake and Maggie Aderin are joined by space journalist Kristin Fisher, who has just touched down in Florida. Kristin fills us in on the latest from the Kennedy Space Center and how the countdown to launch is looking.And we take a more detailed look at the machine standing ready on launchpad 39B. We’re joined by John Blevins, chief engineer for Nasa’s Space Launch System (SLS) – in other

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46:46

Artemis II: 1. Why humans are returning to the Moon

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/03/30

Nasa’s Artemis II mission looks set to launch towards the Moon on April 1st, after months of delays. Presenters Tim Peake and Maggie Aderin are joined by space journalist Kristin Fisher and BBC News Science Editor Rebecca Morelle for the latest updates from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.And more than 50 years on from the last lunar crewed mission, why is Nasa returning to the Moon now? And what is the international context? Journalist and author Tim Marshall calls in to discuss the new space

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2:56

Update: Aiming for April

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/03/17

Artemis II is “on track” to launch in April. And so are we – with our brand-new season of 13 Minutes, which will start a couple of days before lift off. Astronaut Tim Peake is co-presenting 13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II and has the latest news. The mission had been set to begin in early March, but a helium leak was discovered. Nasa says it's confident the problem has been fixed. Now, the earliest possible launch date is 1 April. The mission is set to see astronauts flying around the Moon for the

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4:58

Trailer: The new mission to the Moon

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2026/02/17

The countdown is on to 13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II, following Nasa’s mission to loop around the Moon. We’ll have an Artemis II episode every day. Nasa is hoping to return to the Moon for the first time in more than half a century. The story of Artemis II will be told by space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock, British astronaut Tim Peake, and US space journalist Kristin Fisher. Strap yourself in for another epic journey from the BBC’s space podcast, 13 Minutes. The Artemis II mission aims to send

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28:37

What to listen to next: History’s Toughest Heroes

13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble ·

2025/10/22

13 Minutes will return with a new season in 2026 but in the meantime, we recommend History’s Toughest Heroes. The actor Ray Winstone tells stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge. These are tales of fearsome heroes from across history including arctic explorers, medieval knights and Hollywood stuntwomen. This episode is about an arctic explorer, trapped in a snow drift the size of a coffin. How will he survive frostbite and make it out alive? Please note, this episode

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