61. Why do rockets fly to planets? If you let go of a helium balloon would it go into space? How many satellites are there in space? Ft special guest expert Richard Branson.

Full Episode description

Welcome back to the second series of Everything Under The Sun! Thanks for sending in your questions.

In this week’s show we answer three questions from Ithaca, Benji and Elijah with help from special guest expert Sir Richard Branson.

Richard Branson founded Virgin Records, Virgin airways and now Virgin Galactic which is working hard to make it easier for people to go into space. One day flying to space might be as easy as flying from London to Paris.

Richard knows all about why rockets fly to planets and tells us the different reasons humans might want to fly them and leave earth in search of adventure.

We discover how far a helium balloon will travel if you let go of it outside and what will happen to it and why. We also talk about why helium makes your voice squeaky and what makes it go low. Plus, find out about the record-breaking man who flew into the air tied onto 600 balloons.

Discover how many satellites there are in space, where a record of them is kept and what they do!

Plus we have a competition to win a Tonies Box! And a competition to win the chance to ask Neil Gaiman a Christmas question on Christmas Day on Everything Under The Sun!

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Find out how to submit an answer on our website.

Molly Oldfield studied History at Oxford before becoming a QI elf, writing and researching questions for the BBC quiz show for twelve years. She has written three books. They are The Secret Museum, a book about all the things that are in museums that rarely, if ever, go on display; Wonders of the World’s Museums filled with things you can see, and Natural Wonders of the World about all kinds of creatures and places on our beautiful planet we call home. This podcast will also be published as Everything Under the Sun – A Year of Curious Questions in September 2021 by Ladybird at Penguin Random House.

Check out Virgin Galactic – www.virgingalactic.com

Check out Tonies at www.tonies.com

With thanks to Ash Gardner at House of Strange for the theme song, Audio Networks for the music and Billy Colours for the logo.

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