Britain’s space race efforts were bold but short-lived.    

Join historian Helen Antrobus for the tale of Britain’s space race.

It’s the mid 1950’s and the height of the Cold War era.

British engineers are working in secret at The Needles on the Isle of Wight, testing a nuclear deterrent, the Black Knight Rocket.

But by the end of the 1960s the British rocket programme is under threat. Engineers have one last chance to get into space with the ambitious Black Arrow Rocket.

Can Britain reach the stars or will it fail to launch?

 

Start creating your story at www.cewe.co.uk 

 

Presenter: Helen Antrobus

Producer and sound designer: Nikki Ruck

Contributors 

Paul Carey

Steve Berden

Doug Millard

Jesse Edbrooke – voice of Ray Wheeler

In memory of Ray Wheeler 1927-2019 

With thanks to NASA

Discover more

Discover more about the secrets behind Highdown test site visit  The New Battery at The Needles

Find out more about the history of Black Knight, Black Arrow and Prospero rockets

Wight Aviation Museum

See the Black Arrow Rocket itself https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visit

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https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/virtual-visit/podcasts#stories-about-nature-and-history

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at [email protected]

Introducing Back When, a new history podcast taking you inside the stories of the people, places and moments that made us. Launching 2 April.

Join historians Helen Antrobus and James Grasby for a fly on the wall view of our past. Discover the forgotten story of Britain's space race. Uncover the unsettling history of witches' familiars. And hear the origin story of sci-fi author HG Wells.

Our history is all around us. And we'll be transporting you behind the scenes at landmarks from castles to dance halls and WWII bunkers to workhouses. You’ll meet people from all walks of life whose fascinating stories help us make sense of who we are now. 

Lean in for a tale from time. Back When.

New episodes of Back When are released every fortnight. Follow Back When on your favourite podcast app to make sure you get every story.  

Join singer and songwriter Caryl Parry Jones, as she visits the Castle and choir that inspired Blur frontman Damon Albarn’s latest album. Caryl learns how staff at Penrhyn Castle are forging links with local residents, who still see the site as a brutal reminder of the poor working conditions endured by their relatives more than 100 years ago.