Beatles' 'Across the Universe' to Be Blasted Into Space
Set to be a multiple anniversary on Monday, the song's space release marks the original recording of the Beatles classic 40 years ago, NASA's 50th anniversary, 45 years of the Deep Space Network, and the launching of Explorer 1 (the first U.S. satellite). John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono sent her congratulations and encouragement to the space agency saying, "I see this as the beginning of the new age in which we will communicate with billions of planets across the universe." We're just hoping we communicate with more than billions of planets, since we're pretty sure they are non-sentient.
Fans are encouraged to participate by cranking up their stereos (the neighbors won't mind since it's a stellar occasion) at midnight GMT (that's 7pm Eastern Standard Time) on Monday the 4th.
From NASA
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MrSatyre @ Feb 5th 2008 11:47AM
It's not a deep dark secret among astronomers that radio waves dissipate drastically after only a few hundred billion kilometers, thanks to solar winds, cosmic radiation, interstellar gasses and gravitational tides. By the time they reached Polaris, it would be just static. And why even do it in the first place when there's no one at the other end of the broadcast, even it were technically feasible to weed out the music from all the noise?
Steve @ Feb 5th 2008 1:44PM
We don't know what kind of impact the message of someone who touched millions of human lives might have on something, somewhere, out there. I think it important to realize that this one is less about science than doing something interesting just to see what happens.
I doubt that NASA is spending much on this little experiment [unlike other wastes of money to look at extraterrestrial rocks] and I approve, not because it will necessarily change the world, or help us contact aliens, but because it is fun!
Keep an open mind.
justanad @ Mar 10th 2008 5:33PM
hopefully the aliens will enjoy the beatles as much as i do....!