13 Minutes: Trouble with Hubble

Documentary series on the Hubble Space Telescope's flawed mirror and repair AI summary

BBC World Service Visit website › History · EN · 59 episodes · latest 2026-10-26

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What it is about

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 to answer the most fundamental questions ever asked: How did it all begin? Where are we going? Are we alone? But little does Nasa know that the curvature of one of its mirrors is off by the equivalent of one-fiftieth of the width of a human hair. The result? Blurry images. It will need to be repaired – in space! Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg and produced by Russell Emanuel, for Bleeding Fingers Music. 13 Minutes is the space podcast from the BBC World Service, telling epic space stories. It’s produced by the BBC Audio Science Unit. 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 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. Season 4: Artemis II. Artemis and the return to the Moon. As Nasa returned to the Moon for the first time in more than half a century, we followed the mission with a new episode every day. Four astronauts – on a spacecraft called Orion - looped around the Moon. They went further from Earth than any human in history. The story of Artemis II is told by space scientist Maggie Aderin, British astronaut Tim Peake, and US space journalist Kristin Fisher.

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Latest episodes

Trouble with Hubble: 4. Once in human history

2026-10-26 · 41 min · Season 5, episode 4

Hubble needs saving. Nasa risks everything on a daring and unprecedented rescue mission to restore Hubble’s vision. The most experienced flight crew ever assembled is sent on a mission like no other in history.…
Trouble with Hubble: 3. National disgrace

2026-10-19 · 38 min · Season 5, episode 3

A devastating discovery is turning the crown jewel of astronomy into an embarrassing failure. Hubble isn’t seeing the universe as it should. Why are the pictures blurry? Nasa’s revolutionary telescope is in orbit and…
Trouble with Hubble: 2. The eye opens

2026-10-12 · 42 min · Season 5, episode 2

High above the Earth, the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery race against the clock to lift the Hubble Space Telescope from its storage bay and give it a new home in orbit. They have just eight hours to release the…
Trouble with Hubble: 1. A window on the universe

2026-10-05 · 34 min · Season 5, episode 1

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…
Trouble with Hubble: Trailer

2026-09-28 · 2 min

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:…
Artemis II: Quick update: New season coming soon

2026-09-22 · 2 min · Season 4, episode 15

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…
Artemis II: 14. The learnings

2026-05-04 · 42 min · Season 4, episode 14

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…
Artemis II: 13. Splashdown

2026-04-11 · 36 min · Season 4, episode 13

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,…
Artemis II: 12. Please return to your seats

2026-04-10 · 40 min · Season 4, episode 12

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…
Artemis II: 11. Science surprises

2026-04-09 · 43 min · Season 4, episode 11

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…

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Publisher details

Owner: BBC
Oldest episode in feed: 04/2019 · over 7 years
Typical length: 35 min
Format: Serial Meant to be heard in order

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