Nasa's new 'Idol' song competition 'to give new music to space astronauts'
Nasa astronauts are to be roused by new music first thing in the morning during space missions, after an "Idol" style compeition was launched.
Use of music to wake astronauts on space missions dates back to at least the Apollo Program. Photo: REUTERS
By Andrew Hough
Published: 8:00AM BST 21 Aug 2010
Published: 8:00AM BST 21 Aug 2010
Space agency officials have created the first ever “wake up” competition, which will help choose a catchy tune to rouse the Discovery’s shuttle crews during their final two flights later this year.
Meanwhile, the “American Idol for space” competition was announced, where budding musicians were urged to create a new original tune for the Endeavour mission early next year, the last scheduled space shuttle flight.
Traditionally, the songs played to wake up astronauts are selected by friends and family of the crew members.
But the "Wakeup Song Contest" competition has opened that privilege up to the general public for the first time, who can select songs from a list of the top 40 previous “wakeup calls”.
The choices include Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon" and Tom Petty's "Free Fallin," as well as some U2 and Elton John.
Countdown, by Rush, was the early leader after the competition was announced on Friday, followed by the Star Trek theme and U2’s Beautiful Day.
The two songs with the most votes will be played to crew as crew wakeup calls on the final scheduled flight of space shuttle Discovery in November before the fleet retires.
The newly created song will be played during the Endeavour, which is set to launch Feb. 26 next year.
After 130 space shuttle missions, only four remain before the fleet is scheduled to retire.
"We're looking forward to hearing which songs the public wants played for us," said Steve Lindsey, the Discovery mission’s Commander.
"It's going to be a difficult choice, because there have been so many great songs played over the years."
Mark Kelly, the Endeavour’s commander, added: “Space shuttle crews really enjoy the morning wake-up music.
“While we don't have the best quality speaker in the space shuttle, it will be interesting to hear what the public comes up with. We are looking forward to it."
Use of music to wake astronauts on space missions dates back at least to the Apollo Program.
Astronauts returning from the moon were “serenaded by their colleagues in mission control with lyrics from popular songs that seemed appropriate for the occasion”.
In June, Nasa revealed a stellar line up of musical stars which were used to entertain astronauts while they are on space missions.
The usually serious ground control, play everything from The Beatles' Here Comes the Sun as the spacemen wake up to Sinatra's Fly Me To The Moon as they set off.
A record of the records played was published by the space agency’s “Historical Division” tracing songs in space right back to the 1965 US Gemini Mission.
The song competition has echoes of Nasa’s “Face in Space” contest after the space agency announced it will fly photographs of anyone who uploads a head shot onto their Face in Space website to the International Space Station.
The choices include Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon" and Tom Petty's "Free Fallin," as well as some U2 and Elton John.
Countdown, by Rush, was the early leader after the competition was announced on Friday, followed by the Star Trek theme and U2’s Beautiful Day.
The two songs with the most votes will be played to crew as crew wakeup calls on the final scheduled flight of space shuttle Discovery in November before the fleet retires.
The newly created song will be played during the Endeavour, which is set to launch Feb. 26 next year.
After 130 space shuttle missions, only four remain before the fleet is scheduled to retire.
"We're looking forward to hearing which songs the public wants played for us," said Steve Lindsey, the Discovery mission’s Commander.
"It's going to be a difficult choice, because there have been so many great songs played over the years."
Mark Kelly, the Endeavour’s commander, added: “Space shuttle crews really enjoy the morning wake-up music.
“While we don't have the best quality speaker in the space shuttle, it will be interesting to hear what the public comes up with. We are looking forward to it."
Use of music to wake astronauts on space missions dates back at least to the Apollo Program.
Astronauts returning from the moon were “serenaded by their colleagues in mission control with lyrics from popular songs that seemed appropriate for the occasion”.
In June, Nasa revealed a stellar line up of musical stars which were used to entertain astronauts while they are on space missions.
The usually serious ground control, play everything from The Beatles' Here Comes the Sun as the spacemen wake up to Sinatra's Fly Me To The Moon as they set off.
A record of the records played was published by the space agency’s “Historical Division” tracing songs in space right back to the 1965 US Gemini Mission.
The song competition has echoes of Nasa’s “Face in Space” contest after the space agency announced it will fly photographs of anyone who uploads a head shot onto their Face in Space website to the International Space Station.
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