As NASA’s Artemis II mission crew re-enters Earth’s atmosphere following their historic lunar flyby, the agency has shared a music playlist curated by the astronauts that has sparked considerable excitement among space enthusiasts. This playlist, revealed on social media, continues a tradition that dates back over five decades of using music as wake-up calls for astronauts.
### Playlist Debut
On Wednesday, NASA tweeted, “You asked for it. Here it is,” unveiling the songs chosen by the crew, which includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The playlist is available on Spotify and includes a variety of tracks intended to uplift the crew each morning, similar to practices seen in past missions.
The selected songs span multiple genres and eras, including:
– “Sleepyhead” by Young & Sick
– “Green Light (feat. André 3000)” by John Legend and André 3000
– “In a Daydream” by Freddy Jones Band
– “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan
– “Working Class Heroes (Work)” by CeeLo Green
– “Good Morning” by Mandisa and TobyMac
– “Tokyo Drifting” by Glass Animals and Denzel Curry
– “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie
– “Lonesome Drifter” by Charley Crockett
Each day during their mission, the crew has begun their waking hours with a different track; “Under Pressure” was played on Wednesday, followed by “Lonesome Drifter” on Thursday.
### Historic Mission
Launched on April 1, the Artemis II mission marks the first instance of humans orbiting the moon since the Apollo program, occurring over half a century ago. The crew completed a lunar flyby early this week, becoming the first astronauts to witness the far side of the moon in daylight and achieving a record travel distance of 252,756 miles from Earth. Their journey has not only been a significant technological achievement but has also allowed for stunning photographic documentation, including images of Earth from space and an eclipse viewable from their spacecraft.
### Significance of Music in Space
NASA’s tradition of playing wake-up music for astronauts has been well-documented and has its roots in the Apollo missions. In 2015, NASA historian Colin Fries highlighted the ongoing popularity and importance of this practice in a comprehensive chronicle of wake-up calls. The initiative was designed to foster a sense of camaraderie among astronauts and their support teams on the ground.
Historically, music has served as a morale booster and a way to convey messages from mission control. For instance, in the Apollo program, crew members would be greeted by songs considered appropriate for their mission’s milestones. Lynn W. Heninger, once NASA’s acting assistant administrator for congressional relations, noted in the 1990s that the songs aim to enhance team spirit and should ideally reflect the mission’s theme.
### Previous Mission Playlists
Analyzing past missions provides insight into the evolution of this tradition. For example, the Apollo 10 mission in 1969 featured iconic songs like Tony Bennett’s “The Best Is Yet To Come” and Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly With Me.” The playful spirit of Apollo 15 in 1971 included the famous theme from “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
The choice of music varies significantly across missions, with song selections reflecting the individual personalities of crew members, mission themes, or events happening on Earth at the time.
### Looking Forward to Splashdown
As Artemis II approaches its conclusion, excitement builds surrounding the crew’s final day in space. NASA has not officially announced the song for the crew’s last wake-up call, but past missions suggest it could echo sentiments of returning home. Historically, crews have often woken to Dean Martin’s “Going Back to Houston” on their final day in space, an apt reflection of the journey’s end.
The Orion capsule is expected to splash down off the California coast near San Diego on Friday, bringing to a close a mission that represents a significant leap forward in human space exploration. As NASA prepares for its next missions, the Artemis II journey is set to inspire future discoveries beyond our planet.
Source: Original Reporting
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