BellaOnline Forums Education Astronomy What's your music choice for the Space Shuttle?

NASA has posted 40 previous wake-up songs for astronauts and the public can vote for the music for the next-to-last shuttle. It's currently scheduled for November 1, 2010.

Cast Your Vote

You can listen to the songs, if you're not sure which is which.

I wonder what your choice is? Mine wasn't on the ballot!

I've been having a look at the results so far of the voting to choose the wake-up song for the second-to-last Shuttle mission. You can choose from 40 of the wake-up songs that have been used before to wake up astronauts.

The top choices so far are:
1. Star Trek Theme Song (by Alexander Courage) 477,301 Votes - 26.8%
2. Magic Carpet Ride (by Steppenwolf) 376,223 Votes - 21.1%
3. Blue Sky (by Big Head Todd) 358,841 Votes - 20.1%

Personally, I think the Star Trek theme is a rather unimaginative choice, but obviously there are many who would disagree what that!

What do you think? And have you voted yet?

Here are the current results, if you'd like to have a look.
Space Rock Current Results

Although NASA used Tom Petty's "Learning to Fly," not so Pink Floyd's "Learning to Fly," which I really like.

But Tom Lowe has used it as the background for one of his fantastic time lapse sky videos. It takes you through beautiful southwest skies, both night and day. You should be able to spot Orion and some other winter constellations in the night skies. It is breathtaking.

(If you don't share my enthusiasm for Pink Floyd's song, you can always mute the sound.)

Learning to Fly video

That's pretty cool Mona. I couldn't make up my mind between Roll With It, Magic Carpet Ride, or Start Me Up. I voted for Roll With It. I would love to wake up to that song every day!

Good choice, Monica. I wake up to the radio, so I never know exactly what I'll get. I also use my phone as a backup alarm on work mornings - it's something by Bach, chosen because it's the least jarring sound on offer for the morning.

An easy *wake up* would be Beatles (Harrison's) 'Here Comes The Sun'. One I didn't see that would make for a wful am is 'Time by Pink Floyd - those ringing alarm clocks would energize the nerves.

My top choices were not on the list either:

Space Oddity - David Bowier
Major Tom - Petter Schilling

I ended up voting for Beautiful Day by U2.

- ditto -

I used to love Major Tom. Shiny Toy Guns did a remix of this song. It's better than the original.

Actually, I wouldn't mind "Time" for a wake-up if the alarms were cut off the start. I want to slip into the morning, not be picked up and thrown into it!

How could I have forgotten Major Tom?! Great song. But I can see why NASA didn't think it would be quite right for a wake-up for astronauts.

I didn't know Peter Schilling's song, but I've had a look on U-tube. Love it. But same problem as Bowie's song for NASA, I guess.

James Brown: "Whoa! I feel good!" (darn! not on the list)

Ok, I voted for "Here comes the sun" by the Beatles

I was just wondering how the Space Song Contest was going and had a look at the current votes:

Star Trek Theme Song (by Alexander Courage) 567,527 Votes - 27.3%
Blue Sky (by Big Head Todd) 471,607 Votes - 22.7%
Magic Carpet Ride (by Steppenwolf) 377,412 Votes - 18.2%

Blue Sky has shot ahead of Magic Carpet Ride, but it looks as if Star Trek has an unassailable lead. Obviously, lots of Trekkies out there -- or else they're just very keen.

I like Spirit in the Sky as another choice. I'd be pretty happy with Star Trek! I am a true blue trekker.

Jilly, I didn't know Spirit in the Sky. Despite it's popularity, I missed it-must have been busy when it came out. But found it on YouTube and yeah, I could go for that. Thanks for mentioning it. (Though I can see why NASA would avoid it.)

And did I say something about Star Trek's unassailable lead? Well, here are the latest figures in the voting.

Blue Sky (by Big Head Todd) 674,247 Votes - 28.4%
Star Trek Theme Song (by Alexander Courage) 638,781 Votes - 26.9%
Magic Carpet Ride (by Steppenwolf) 377,598 Votes - 15.9%

There were over 2.4 million votes and the two that topped the poll will be announced during Discovery's mission.

That's if they get it off the ground. Launch has been postponed once again - this time due to bad weather - and it's fingers crossed for tomorrow afternoon (Nov 5). If they don't launch by Sunday, they will have to wait until December.