Main content

Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Kirsty Young's castaway is space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock.

Kirsty Young's castaway is space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock.

She has, she says, a special relationship with the moon, one that started when she first saw The Clangers as a small child. As a teenager she made her own telescope so she could study the moon more closely. Now she makes highly technical optical equipment for satellites, but says she still harbours desires to go into space - her dream job is building a telescope on the moon. She says: 'From the age of three, I wanted to get into space and I still do. It's been the driving force of my life really, that desire to get out there one day.'

Record: As by Stevie Wonder
Book: Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon
Luxury: A telescope.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 12 Mar 2010 09:00

Music Played

  • Van Morrison

    Moondance

    • Van Morrison: Still on Top –The Greatest Hits.
    • Exile.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major

    Orchestra: Ars Rediviva Orchestra Conductor: Milan Munclinger

    • Bach: Brandenburg Concertos/Suites for Orchestra.
    • De Olfe Supraphon.
  • Michael Flanders and Donald Swann

    The First and Second Law of Thermodynamics

    • Complete Flanders and Swann.
    • EMI.
  • Labi Siffre

    (Something Inside) So Strong

    • The Best of Labi Siffre.
    • EMI.
  • Henry Purcell

    When I am laid in earth (Dido's Lament) (from Dido and Aeneas)

    Soloist: Sarah Connolly

    • Dido and Aeneas.
    • Chandos.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Stevie Wonder

      As

      • Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life – Vol 1 & 2.
      • Motown.
  • Basement Jaxx

    Where's Your Head At?

    • Basement Jaxx. Where’s Your Head At.
    • XL.
  • Sting

    Fragile

    • Fields of Gold – the Best of Sting 1984-1994.
    • A & M.
  • Book Choice

    • Star Maker - Olaf Stapledon

  • Luxury Choice

    • A telescope

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Broadcasts

  • Sun 7 Mar 2010 11:15
  • Fri 12 Mar 2010 09:00

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast