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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 BBC Radio 4 in March 2011.

19 days left to listen

15 minutes

Last on

Tue 30 Dec 202523:15
BBC Radio 4 Extra

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Credits

PerformerHelen Keen
ActorPeter Serafinowicz
ActorSusy Kane
ProducerGareth Edwards
WriterHelen Keen
WriterMiriam Underhill

Broadcasts

  • Wed 9 Mar 201123:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Wed 4 Sep 201323:15
    BBC Radio 4
  • Mon 23 Feb 201523:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
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  • Tue 23 May 202323:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 30 Dec 202523:15
    BBC Radio 4 Extra