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.

Introducing: 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 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.

“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 Dietrich
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

Apollo 13: 7. Resurrection

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

Apollo 13: Bonus 2. John Aaron

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

Apollo 13: Bonus 1. Jim Lovell

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

Apollo 13: 6. Earth in view

“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

Apollo 13: 5. Life support

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

Apollo 13: 4. Power brokers

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

Apollo 13:  3. Lifeboat

“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

Apollo 13:  2. Death of the Odyssey

“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.

Apollo 13: 1. Time bomb

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

Apollo 13: Trailer, The Countdown

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

13 Minutes to the Moon: Bonus - The making of the music

“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.

13 Minutes to the Moon: 12. Live from Houston

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

13 Minutes to the Moon: 11. The 13 minutes

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

13 Minutes to the Moon: 10. ‘For all mankind’

We are five and a half minutes to the moon. Tension goes “through the roof”. Neil Armstrong takes control and the fuel starts to run out. In Mission Control, flight controllers count down to 60 seconds of fuel remaining – and then 30 seconds… With Kevin Fong.
Starring:
Steve Bales
Charlie Duke
Gerry Griffin
Courtesy of the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project: 
Neil Armstrong 
Gene Kranz
Jack Garman
Bob Carlton 
Theme music by Hans Zimmer for Bleeding Fingers Music
#13MinutestotheMoon 
www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes

13 Minutes to the Moon: 9. Tranquility Base

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

13 Minutes to the Moon: 8. ‘We’re go for powered descent’

Without the astronaut who didn’t step on the moon, Apollo 11 wouldn’t have succeeded. As Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made their historic landing, Michael Collins was in lunar orbit, playing a crucial role on the mothership. This is his story, with Kevin Fong.
Starring:
Michael Collins
Theme music by Hans Zimmer for Bleeding Fingers Music
#13MinutestotheMoon 
www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes

13 Minutes to the Moon: 7. Michael Collins - third man

War, riots, assassinations: “the year that shattered America”. And then NASA took the biggest risk in its history. There was the Vietnam War and the murders of Martin Luther King and Robert F Kennedy but with Apollo 8, astronauts went further from Earth than anyone had gone before and changed the way we look at our home forever. With Kevin Fong.
Starring:
John Aaron
Bill Anders 
Frank Borman
Jerry Bostick
Michael Collins
Jim Lovell
Poppy Northcutt
Katherine Johnson courtesy of WHRO 
Chris Kraft courtesy of the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project
Theme music by Hans Zimmer for Bleeding Fingers Music
#13MinutestotheMoon 
www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes
This episode was updated on 19 June 2019.

13 Minutes to the Moon:  6. Saving 1968

The computer that got us to the moon. The size of a briefcase, there had never been anything like it. Apollo 11 was “the first time software ran on the moon”. This is the story of the world’s first digital portable general purpose computer. The work of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, helped give rise to the digital age. With Kevin Fong.
Starring:
Ramon Alonso
Elaine Denniston
Charlie Duke
Don Eyles
Eldon Hall
Margaret Hamilton
Dan Lickly 
Theme music by Hans Zimmer for Bleeding Fingers Music
#13MinutestotheMoon 
www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes

13 Minutes to the Moon:  5. The fourth astronaut

"You heard ‘fire’. Then you heard a scream." The Apollo 1 tragedy and what happened 21 months later – Apollo’s first successful manned mission into Earth’s orbit. With Kevin Fong.
Starring:
George Abbey
Walt Cunningham 
Glynn Lunney
Gerry Griffin
John Aaron
Jerry Bostick
Courtesy of the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project: 
Chris Kraft
Gene Kranz 
Wally Schirra
George Jeffs 
Courtesy of CBS News: 
Gus Grissom
Ed White
Roger Chaffee
Theme music by Hans Zimmer for Bleeding Fingers Music
#13MinutestotheMoon 
www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes

13 Minutes to the Moon:  4. Fire to the Phoenix

Ugly, angry, with four legs and wrapped in gold: it was a spacecraft like nothing on Earth. The story of Grumman’s lunar module, with Kevin Fong.
Starring:
Charlie Duke
Dick Dunne
John Devaney
Alan Contessa
Neil Armstrong courtesy of the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project
Tom Kelly courtesy of the MIT Museum Collections
Theme music by Hans Zimmer for Bleeding Fingers Music
#13MinutestotheMoon 
www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes

13 Minutes to the Moon:  3. Long Island Eagle

The unsung heroes who saved the day. "Here’s some 26-year-old kid, who could stop the lunar mission." An alarm appears on the on-board computer, but what does it mean? With Kevin Fong.
Starring:
Steve Bales
Charlie Duke
John Aaron
Glynn Lunney
Gerry Griffin
Jerry Bostick
Gene Kranz courtesy of the Johnson Space Center History Office 
Theme music by Hans Zimmer for Bleeding Fingers Music
#13MinutestotheMoon 
www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes

13 Minutes to the Moon:  2. Kids in control

With no idea how to get there, the race to the moon begins – "we intend to win". To understand how the story ends, we need to start at the very beginning. With Kevin Fong.
Starring:
Michael Collins
Steve Bales
Margaret Hamilton
Jim Lovell 
Charlie Duke
Theme music by Hans Zimmer for Bleeding Fingers Music
#13MinutestotheMoon 
www.bbcworldservice.com/13minutes
This episode was updated on 14 May 2019.

13 Minutes to the Moon: 1. ‘We choose to go’, Apollo 11

The final part of our audio countdown to the launch of 13 Minutes to the Moon, with Kevin Fong. Lift off is on 13 May 2019.

13 Minutes to the Moon: Trailer, T-minus 1

Hans Zimmer has composed the 13 Minutes to the Moon theme music. It is the first time the Grammy and Academy Award winner has created music for a podcast.

13 Minutes to the Moon: Trailer, T-minus 2

Introducing 13 Minutes to the Moon, with Apollo 7 astronaut Walt Cunningham and former Apollo engineer Poppy Northcutt - the first woman to work as an engineer in an operational support role in NASA's Mission Control.

13 Minutes to the Moon: Trailer, T-minus 3

The countdown begins. The story of Apollo 11 – coming soon.