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BBC Inside Science

How is war being fought in space?

BBC Inside Science

BBC

Science

4.61.3K Ratings

🗓️ 5 March 2026

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week Inside Science comes from Space Comm Expo in London, one of the biggest space conferences in the world. Tom Whipple explores the conference with Suzie Imber, Professor of Planetary Science at the University of Leicester.

Tom also speaks to Dr Everett Dolman, Professor of Space Strategy at John Hopkins University in the USA, about the role of space in modern warfare.

Jodie Howlett, who oversees in-orbit manufacturing at the UK Space Agency talks about why the unique physics of space could be the perfect environment in which to manufacture the next generation of medicines.

And Daniela Schmidt, Professor of Earth Sciences at Bristol University tells us why new research shows how we’ve drastically underestimated our measurements of sea level.

To discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk, search for BBC Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University.

Presenter: Tom Whipple Producer: Kate White, Katie Tomsett, Alex Mansfield and Clare Salisbury Production co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth Editor: Martin Smith

Transcript

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0:00.0

BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.

0:05.7

Right, start at the beginning.

0:07.7

You're about to listen to a BBC podcast.

0:09.7

Okay, hello.

0:10.6

And if you're into true crime.

0:12.3

The message was clear.

0:13.7

You might like to investigate BBC sounds.

0:16.1

Somebody must know something.

0:18.0

Because there's a caseload of award-winning podcasts.

0:20.7

Do you think this is actually going to go to trial?

0:22.8

That cast light on shady cyber criminals, mysterious drownings and unsolved murders, from Bergen to Belfast.

0:29.0

I didn't know who I could trust.

0:30.8

Search, true crime on BBC Sounds.

0:33.3

The only thing left to do now is Ron.

0:38.1

Hello, I'm Tom Whipple and this is Inside Science from the BBC World Service.

0:44.0

Today we are on the road, as you can hear.

0:47.1

We are in London for one of the biggest space conferences in the world, Spacecom Expo.

0:52.5

There's a lot going on.

0:53.6

There are big satellites and small satellites,

0:56.0

rocket propulsion and water propulsion.

0:59.0

I just passed one stand advertising a self-eating spacecraft.

1:04.0

Now I am standing here with Professor Susie Imber,

...

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