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Episode 1

Three fathers of rocket science, and why space travel is like coach travel. Quirky true history with Helen Keen. From March 2011.

Funny, off-beat but factually accurate account of the science of rockets and the brilliant but occasionally warped brains behind-it-all.

So who were the three fathers of modern rocket science?

* 19th Century self-taught Russian visionary Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky and his dreams of orbiting space stations and Martian colonies;

* American Robert H Goddard, derided in The New York Times in the 1920s for his prediction of a lunar landing (A retraction was printed after the Apollo 11 launch);

* Transylvanian-German Hermann Oberth with his brilliant theories about space travel and his horrifying theories about racial supremacy.

Plus Helen reveals the surprising connection between space travel and a coach tour of the Jewels of the Rhineland.

Starring:

Helen Keen
Peter Serafinowicz
Susy Kane

Written by Helen Keen and Miriam Underhill.

Producer: Gareth Edwards

First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 in March 2011.

15 minutes

Last on

Tue 23 May 2023 23:00

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Credits

Role Contributor
Performer Helen Keen
Actor Peter Serafinowicz
Actor Susy Kane
Producer Gareth Edwards
Writer Helen Keen
Writer Miriam Underhill

Broadcasts

  • Wed 9 Mar 2011 23:00
  • Wed 4 Sep 2013 23:15
  • Mon 23 Feb 2015 23:45
  • Tue 24 Feb 2015 09:45
  • Mon 7 Nov 2016 23:30
  • Tue 8 Nov 2016 09:30
  • Mon 6 Jan 2020 23:45
  • Tue 7 Jan 2020 09:45
  • Sun 6 Jun 2021 23:00
  • Sat 12 Jun 2021 14:30
  • Sun 13 Jun 2021 02:30
  • Tue 23 May 2023 23:00