NASA succeeded in sending a hip hop song for the first time to the planet Venus.
Tuesday, 15 Oct 2024 22:29:22 This is how much it would cost if the planet Earth was sold (©Shutterstock)
The United States Space Agency (NASA) yesterday announced that Missy Elliott‘s song “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” took almost 14 minutes to reach the planet Venus, covering a distance of around 254 million kilometers from Earth.
NASA transmitted the song with a radio antenna near Barstow, California.
Anyone else asking too?
The transmission was carried out by the 34-meter-wide Deep Space Station 13 (DSS-13) radio parabolic antenna located at DSN’s Goldstone Space Communications Complex, near Barstow in California on Friday, July 12, 2024.
Breaking the record for the first transmission to Venus
“My song ‘The Rain’ has officially been sent to Venus, the planet that symbolizes strength, beauty and empowerment. The sky is not the limit, it is only the beginning,” wrote Elliott on X, as quoted on the CNN page.
New breakthrough
NASA approved the transmission of Elliot’s song into space because it considered that Missy Elliot often raised space themes in her video clips.
“Elliot has a track record of combining space-centric storytelling and futuristic visuals in his music videos, so the opportunity to collaborate on something this extraordinary was a natural fit,” said Brittany Brown, a director in NASA’s communications office.
Brown added that “both space exploration and Missy Elliott’s art have pushed new boundaries and breakthroughs.”
Elliot’s song is also the space agency’s first transmission of a hip-hop song to the planet Venus.
Previously they had only sent The Beatles’ song “Across the Universe” which was sent from Earth to the North Star, Polaris in 2008.
Although song transmissions are rare, NASA is innovating to send music into space in other ways.
Most notably on the Voyager 1 and 2 probes in 1977, NASA included gold-plated vinyl records with “sounds and images selected to depict the diversity of life and culture on Earth.”
Intern Reporter: Elma Pinkan Yulianti
NASA has officially taken hip hop out of this world by beaming a Missy Elliott classic to Venus!
NASA’s Out of This World Music Transmission
On Tuesday, October 15, 2024, NASA made waves—or should we say, sound waves—by transmitting a hip hop song across the cosmos to our nearby neighbor, Venus. The song in question? None other than Missy Elliott’s iconic track, “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly).” I mean, if any planet deserves a mammoth hip hop anthem, it’s the planet named after the goddess of love and beauty. Who knew Venus had such excellent taste in music?
The song took a staggering 14 minutes to reach its extraterrestrial destination. That’s almost enough time for you to listen to the entire track twice—if you’re not stuck in traffic on the 405, that is. And let’s not forget about the distance: 254 million kilometers. That’s more than enough space for Elliott to get her message across while leaving behind any regret from Earthly quarrels—like the time someone “accidentally” borrowed your favorite hoodie and never returned it.
A Stellar Collaboration
The transmission was executed flawlessly using the 34-meter-wide Deep Space Station 13 (DSS-13) in Barstow, California. Congratulations to all involved—what a way to break new ground! Brittany Brown, a director at NASA’s communications office, stated, “Elliott has a track record of combining space-centric storytelling and futuristic visuals in her music videos.” I don’t know about you, but if I were Venus, I’d be bumping that track on repeat.
Imagine the atmosphere as Missy Elliott’s beats fill the air! You’d have Venus dancing with all its geological features shaking like they just heard the best beats of their celestial lives.
Breaking Records and Further Innovations
Not only is this the first hip hop song ever transmitted to the planet Venus, but it also breaks the record for the longest trip a jam has taken through the galaxy. Before this, we only had The Beatles’ “Across the Universe” beamed to Polaris in 2008. Thanks to Missy, we now know that even in space, where no one can hear you scream, they can definitely hear you rap!
Sure, transmissions like these are rare, but NASA’s ahead of the curve! They’re not just innovating; they’re reaching for the stars—literally! Let’s not forget those gold-plated vinyl records sent with the Voyager probes back in ’77 which included sounds and images to depict life’s diversity. Talk about the ultimate mixtape!
So, what does this all mean for the future of space music? Perhaps extraterrestrial beings will tune in for their dose of hip hop? One can only guess. Just imagine, a gig on Venus with a front row seat under clouds of sulfuric acid—definitely a unique crowd! So, if you’re planning a vacation, the travel deal is out of this world!
Until then, let’s raise a glass to Missy Elliott for breaking boundaries and putting the “hip” in hip hop space transmission. The sky is no longer the limit; it’s just an intergalactic starting line. Cheers to music that’s truly interstellar!
Intern Reporter: Elma Pinkan Yulianti
