13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II Podcast
The BBC’s space podcast. The story of Artemis II: Nasa’s mission to loop around the Moon. Previous seasons: the stories of the first Moon landing, Apollo 13 and the Space Shuttle.
Artemis and the return to the Moon. The BBC’s space podcast is following Artemis II, with an episode every day during the mission. Nasa is returning to the Moon for the first time in more than half a century. The Artemis II mission is sending astronauts – on a spacecraft called Orion - to loop around the Moon and to go further from Earth than any human in history. The story of Artemis II is being told by space scientist, Maggie Aderin, and British astronaut, Tim Peake. They are joined by expert contributors, US space journalist Kristin Fisher and the BBC News Science Editor, Rebecca Morelle.
Orion’s crew is Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. The last crewed mission to The Moon was Apollo 17 in 1972.
13 Minutes is the BBC’s space podcast, telling epic space stories. It’s produced by the BBC Audio Science Unit for the BBC World Service.
Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg and produced by Russell Emanuel, for Bleeding Fingers Music.
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 and co-written 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. Some scenes in this series use recreated sound effects.
Episodes to download
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12. Please return to your seats—Artemis II
Friday
The Artemis II mission hurtles towards re-entry and splashdown.
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11. Science surprises—Artemis II
Thursday
Dr Kelsey Young, lead science officer for Artemis, talks all things Moon science.
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10. How to train your astronaut—Artemis II
Wednesday
The Artemis II chief training officer tells us how the crew prepared for this mission.
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8. Final approach—Artemis II
Last Monday
Final preparations for lunar flyby, and the mechanics of a free return
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7. A family photo—Artemis II
Last Sunday
More toilet worries as the crew of Integrity pose for a picture in the capsule windows
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5. No going back—Artemis II
Fri 3 Apr 2026
The loop round the Moon target is locked in by the last major engine burn of the mission
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4. Launch after-party—Artemis II
Thu 2 Apr 2026
Before the big decision Go/No Go to the Moon, liftoff deserves some analysis.
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3. Man around the Moon—Artemis II
Wed 1 Apr 2026
Astronaut Jeremy Hansen talks to the BBC before the space launch
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2. Rocket man—Artemis II
Tue 31 Mar 2026
13 Mins takes a look at the rocket that will blast Nasa’s Artemis II mission into space.
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1. Why humans are returning to the Moon—Artemis II
Mon 30 Mar 2026
The countdown is on for Artemis II: Nasa’s return to the Moon
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Trailer: The new mission to the Moon—Artemis II
Tue 17 Feb 2026
The countdown is on to 13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II, following Nasa’s new Moon mission
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10. Return to flight—The Space Shuttle
Mon 14 Jul 2025
The space shuttle is back – and they’re ready for lift off
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9. What is it all for?—The Space Shuttle
Mon 14 Jul 2025
Is human spaceflight worth the risk? After the disaster come tough questions.
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8. A major malfunction—The Space Shuttle
Mon 14 Jul 2025
The Challenger tragedy shocks a nation. But could it have been prevented?
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7. Teacher in space—The Space Shuttle
Mon 14 Jul 2025
Nasa needs to kick-start new interest in the shuttle. How about a classroom recruit?
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6. Satellite for sale—The Space Shuttle
Mon 14 Jul 2025
Can the crew rescue the million-dollar space satellite lost in orbit?
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5. Space truck—The Space Shuttle
Mon 14 Jul 2025
President Reagan declares the shuttle open for business. Then a satellite goes missing
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4. The 35 new guys—The Space Shuttle
Mon 14 Jul 2025
Nasa recruits women and ethnic minorities as astronauts for the first time
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3. Glass rocket—The Space Shuttle
Mon 14 Jul 2025
Columbia reaches orbit but the shuttle has been damaged – can they make it home safely?
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2. The greatest test flight—The Space Shuttle
Mon 14 Jul 2025
The astronauts count down to flying a brand-new spacecraft for the very first time
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1. The spaceplane—The Space Shuttle
Mon 14 Jul 2025
Can Nasa build the most complex flying machine in space history?
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Introducing: The Space Shuttle—The Space Shuttle
Wed 25 Jun 2025
To launch like a rocket and land like a plane. The space shuttle: A dream became reality
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7. Resurrection—Apollo 13
Mon 8 Jun 2020
Can the Apollo 13 astronauts survive the dangers of re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere?
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Bonus 2. John Aaron—Apollo 13
Thu 16 Apr 2020
Nasa flight controller John Aaron talks to Kevin Fong about the ill-fated Apollo mission
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6. Earth in view—Apollo 13
Wed 15 Apr 2020
Apollo 13 goes off course. With no computer, the astronauts rely on their flying skills
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Bonus 1. Jim Lovell—Apollo 13
Tue 14 Apr 2020
Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell talks to Kevin Fong about the doomed Nasa mission
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5. Life support—Apollo 13
Wed 8 Apr 2020
Nasa help Apollo 13’s cold, exhausted crew survive deadly CO2 levels in the spacecraft







