13 Minutes to the Moon
by BBC World Service
July 14, 2025 10:30 am
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. Some scenes in this series use recreated sound effects.
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.
Recent Episodes
13 Minutes to the Moon: Trailer, T-minus 4
6 years ago13 Minutes to the Moon: Trailer, T-minus 3
6 years ago13 Minutes to the Moon: Trailer, T-minus 2
6 years ago13 Minutes to the Moon: Trailer, T-minus 1
6 years ago13 Minutes to the Moon: 1. ‘We choose to go’, Apollo 11
6 years ago13 Minutes to the Moon: 2. Kids in control
6 years ago13 Minutes to the Moon: 3. Long Island Eagle
6 years ago13 Minutes to the Moon: 4. Fire to the Phoenix
6 years ago13 Minutes to the Moon: 5. The fourth astronaut
6 years ago13 Minutes to the Moon: 6. Saving 1968
6 years ago