Sing for the shuttle

 

NASA’s Space Rock website offers two ways to take part: choose a tune for the “wake-up calls” (left) or submit an original song that you have written and performed (right). Credit: NASA

We have already mentioned the wave of nostalgia taking over the American agency and space fans with the imminent cancellation of the space shuttle program several times on Enjoy Space. If you want, your picture could be sent to the shuttle during flights STS-133 and 134 (see this article). However, NASA has now had a new idea! This time, you could even sing aboard Endeavour during the mission STS-134 in February 2011. Understand that the recording of your musical work would be broadcast to the crew (you, unfortunately will remain on the ground…).  Indeed, as part of this competition entitled Space Rock, internet users all over the world are invited to upload an original song, written, composed and performed for the occasion before 10 January 2011 (MP3 file of less than 1.5 Mb for a duration of 1 to 2 minutes). A jury will select the best works depending on their musical quality, but also their references to manned space flights. Then, the public will vote online starting 8 February 2011.  The songs with the most votes will be played during radio communications between Earth and the shuttle. Are you a singer at heart and inspired by manned space flight? Try your luck, but don’t count on getting rich since the rules stipulate that winners will receive no payment from NASA although it will own the worldwide rights to use your work. So, this will be for the beauty of the gesture and art!
Neither a composer nor singer? Fortunately the American agency is offering you another way to take part. During the mission STS-133 in November 2010, two “wake-up calls” (see this Enjoy Space feature for more information) will have been chosen from a list of 40 songs by an internet vote. At the time of writing, the two leading songs are the theme to Star Trek by Alexander Courage (this was rather inevitable) and Magic Carpet Ride by the rock group Steppenwolf (a hit from 1968).

NASA’s Space Rock website

Published 2 September 2010