NASA Launches Music Contests for Final Space Shuttle Missions

As NASA (the actual National Air and Space Administration, not the band) tragically prepares to dismantle the Space Shuttle Program, they still have a few missions left to complete. Since the Apollo days, Ground Control has entertained Major Tom (and all the astronauts) by playing them music as a wake-up call. Some music may sound better in space than others, but NASA often went with songs that were topical to the day's agenda. For example, Simon & Garfunkel's 'Homeward Bound' might play during the journey's final day. Or, to break up the monotony of seriousness that accompanies space adventures, a sly crew member might slip in the theme to 'Mission: Impossible' as a joke (true story). Family members, the astronauts themselves and even celebrities or politicians would sometimes be granted special requests.

Ground Control has two new missions: First, to bring the wake-up music to the people. And, then, to bring the people's music to space. For the final days of the Space Shuttle Program, NASA is allowing the public to vote on two wake-up songs for the STS-133 mission, which currently has a Nov. 1 launch date. Nominees include songs by U2 ('Beautiful Day'), the Clash ('Should I Stay or Should I Go?') and, of course, Thomas Dolby's 'She Blinded Me With Science.' Other bands on the list of 40 include Metallica, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen.

But for those who truly wish to rock space and didn't get accepted to Space Camp because they were too busy playing their electric guitar, NASA is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity -- artists can go to NASA's website and upload an original song. A panel of science nerds and space geeks (err, an official NASA panel) will vote on two songs to be played as wake-up music for the STS-134 mission, which has a launch date of Feb. 26, 2011.

The winner gets galaxy-sized bragging rights: even if they usually play to empty rooms or, for that matter, only in their living room... at least they can say they're big in outer space.