The 240,000-mile journey to the Moon last three days each way, so to elevate the boredom of the epic road trip, NASA is preparing a playlist for astronauts to enjoy – and the agency wants your suggestions. NASA is readying to land astronauts on the Moon within the next five years. NASA is calling on the public to help create the playlist, dubbed NASA Moon Tunes, on the eve of the Apollo 11 50th anniversary.
Their plea for pop music has already been attracted thousands of suggestions, after only a few days.
A NASA spokesperson said: “Submit your suggestion from June 3 to June 28 – the same time frame in which Apollo 11 astronauts were making final preparations for their mission 50 years ago.
“Liftoff of our playlist will be on July 13 and 14 and will air during a live show on NASA’s Third Rock Radio, just a few days prior to the Apollo 11 launch anniversary!”
To submit a suggestion, simply tweet the song name alongside the hashtag #NASAMoonTunes, or submit via NASA’ site HERE.
Popular choices have predictably included Moon and space-themed songs, from “Fly Me To The Moon” and Elton John’s classic “Rocket Man”.
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The iconic space agency this time intends to use private space companies to prepare the next-generation tech required to make a viable exploration of the Moon possible.
NASA head Jim Bridenstine said in February: “This time, when we go to the moon we’re going to stay.
“So, we are not going back to the moon to leave flags and footprints and then not go back for another 50 years.
“We are going to go sustainably. To stay. With landers and robots and rovers – and humans.”
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NASA’s renewed push to the moon comes from Space Policy Directive 1, an order signed by President Donald Trump in December 2018.
This orders NASA to return astronauts to Earth’s desolate satellite in a sustainable way.
The 21st century lunar architecture will use NASA’s planned Gateway, an orbital space station near the moon, as a way station for astronauts en route to the moon.
Transfer vehicles at the Gateway will transport lunar landers to and from low lunar orbit.
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The landers (which consist of a descent element and reusable ascent element that carries the crew) would then make the final trip to the lunar surface.
Refuelling spacecraft based at the Gateway will then resupply the transfer tugs and returning ascent vehicles for return trips to the moon.
NASA leaders have described the technology as an “open architecture” designed to foster new avenues for explore the Moon.
“We are doing it in a way that we’ve never done before,” Bridenstine recently told reporters.