Space is really big. Infinite even. When you look up and peer into our cosmic neighbourhood, you’ll find moons, asteroids, planets, and galaxies, alongside a few thousand satellites and spacecrafts that have embarked on a journey into the vast expanse. 

But how do these spacecrafts get up there? How do they know where to go? And how do we not lose them in space?

Join Dr Alice Roberts, Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham, as she opens up The Curiosity Vault in search of an answer. She’s enlisted planet-discovering astrophysicist Dr Georgina Dransfield and Dr Leah Alconcel, a space engineer who’s worked on the Cassini, Cluster and JUICE missions, to tackle the question, how do you plan a mission to space?

The Curiosity Vault is a Fresh Air Production for The University of Birmingham. It’s produced by Harriet Wells and Izzie Clarke. 

If you want to find out more about the amazing research at the University of Birmingham – and about how you can be part of the journey, follow the link HERE, and remember to follow now for free so you never miss an episode.