Space Jams: How Astronauts Groove to Tunes on the Moon Mission

Music has always played a special role in people's lives, and now it is also a big part of space missions. When astronauts travel far from Earth, they bring music with them to help them feel connected and motivated. On NASA's Artemis II mission, the crew has been waking up to a playlist filled with songs chosen by themselves and their families. Some of the tracks include Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan and Tokyo Drifting by Glass Animals and Denzel Curry. Denzel Curry, the rapper behind Tokyo Drifting, was surprised and thrilled to learn that his song was played in space. He said he would love to meet the astronauts and thank them for including his music. Curry, who has always been interested in space movies, now dreams of being the first rapper to perform in space.

The connection between music and space goes back many years. When British astronaut Tim Peake prepared for his journey to the International Space Station in 2015, he picked three songs to listen to before launch: Queen's Don't Stop Me Now, U2's Beautiful Day, and Coldplay's A Sky Full of Stars. Tim Peake explained that music is important for astronauts because it helps them feel connected to Earth and reminds them of their loved ones. He described the experience of listening to music while looking at the planet from space as surreal and comforting.

NASA makes it possible for astronauts to listen to their favorite songs by downloading the tracks and sending them to the crew through mission control. Antonia Jaramillo, who works at NASA, said that the Artemis II playlist is a mix of personal favorites and meaningful songs for the mission. She explained that music helps astronauts start their day and keeps them in a good mood, just like it does for people on Earth.

The tradition of playing music in space started during the Gemini missions in the 1960s. Back then, astronauts even played Jingle Bells with a harmonica and bells to celebrate a successful mission. These instruments are now displayed at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. Dr. Eleanor Armstrong, a space researcher, said that playing music in the morning is a tradition that goes back to the US Navy and other organizations.

Music is not only for fun in space. It helps astronauts deal with the challenges of being far from home and keeps them connected to their families. Dr. Armstrong mentioned that music has also been sent on unmanned missions, like the Voyager probe, which carried a disc with songs and sounds from Earth to show the diversity of human experience.

Astronaut Christina Koch, who is part of the Artemis II crew, is especially interested in music in space. She found the cassette tape that was played during the Apollo 11 mission and played it again on the International Space Station for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. During her time on the ISS, she learned to play a song for her husband on the keyboard for their wedding anniversary. Koch and her husband also create playlists for each part of her journey, so they can listen to the same music and feel close, even when they are far apart.

The Artemis II crew members each have songs that are meaningful to them. Commander Reid Wiseman said that Tokyo Drifting reminds him of family vacations with his daughters. Jeremy Hansen's family suggested Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie, and Victor Glover enjoyed waking up to Good Morning by Mandisa, which his wife chose for him.

The full Artemis II wake-up playlist includes songs from artists like John Legend, Queen, and David Bowie. Music helps the astronauts start their day and makes their time in space more enjoyable. Even though they are far from home, music helps them feel happy and connected to Earth. The tradition of music in space shows that no matter how far we travel, music remains an important part of our lives.