🛰️ What do astronauts listen to? The history of music in space
Have you ever wondered if astronauts listen to music up there, floating among the stars? The answer is a resounding yes, and the backstory is as cool as it is wild. Here is a look at the most important moments when music made its way into space travel history.
It all started with a Russian singing alone in orbit
In 1961, Yuri Gagarin, the first human to go to space, was flying totally solo aboard Vostok 1. He didn't have an iPod, an MP3 player, or anything like that (obviously), but that didn't stop him from singing a couple of popular Russian songs while orbiting Earth. So yeah, the first music in space was a cappella and Soviet.
A floating harmonica at Christmas
In 1965, astronauts Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford made history on the Gemini 6A mission by playing the first song with instruments... in space! It was Christmas, so they decided to sneak a harmonica and some sleigh bells on board to play "Jingle Bells" while floating in zero gravity. It was all a prank for mission control in Houston, and it worked: they got a good laugh out of them from space.
Apollo 11 and the lunar playlist
When Apollo 11 reached the moon in 1969, the astronauts didn't just bring spacesuits and flags. They also brought along a music player. Word is they listened to tracks like "Fly Me to the Moon" (naturally) and other tunes to chill out on the most epic trip in history. Because, come on, if you are going to the moon, you at least need a solid playlist.
Wake-up calls: starting the day with music
For years, NASA used songs to wake up astronauts in space. It was like a custom alarm: sometimes tracks picked by the astronauts themselves, other times surprises sent by their families. Imagine waking up to Queen, Beethoven, or your favorite band... right in the middle of the cosmos. Not a bad way to start the day.
The International Space Station: guitar included
Up on the ISS (International Space Station), astronauts spend months living up there. So, just like in any home, they have instruments around. There is an acoustic guitar floating about, and more than one crew member has recorded songs to pass the time.
One of the most famous was Chris Hadfield, a Canadian astronaut who in 2013 recorded his version of David Bowie's "Space Oddity"... right from space! The video went viral and even Bowie himself gave it props. It was basically a galactic music video.
Music traveling across the universe
Did you know there are songs that have literally been beamed deep into space? For example:
- In 2008, NASA beamed The Beatles' "Across the Universe" out toward the Polaris star, about 431 light-years away.
There are also golden records loaded with music (like Bach, Chuck Berry, and sounds of Earth) aboard the Voyager probes, just in case some aliens stumble upon them and want to check out our vibe.
What about the future?
With plans to head to Mars or go back to the moon, it is super clear that music is going to keep being part of the ride. People are already looking into:
Smart players that match music to the crew's mood.
Lighter musical instruments so astronauts can actually jam out.
Even music studios right inside space stations!
Because being on another planet might be awesome... but it can also get lonely. And music is that little piece of Earth we carry in our hearts, even millions of miles from home.
Galactic sign-off
So yeah, music has its own history in space. It doesn't just hang out with us on Earth; it has crossed atmospheres, floated in zero gravity, woken up sleepy astronauts, and hyped up millions from way up high.