Mic Drop in the Milky Way: NASA Beams First Hip-Hop Song to Venus
Move over, “Across the Universe,” there’s a new interstellar anthem in town! In a historic first, NASA has beamed a hip-hop song into the vast expanse of space, aiming it towards our nearest planetary neighbour, Venus.
The song of choice? Missy Elliott’s iconic 2001 hit, “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly).” On July 12th, the inspirational lyrics and infectious beat blasted off from NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN) facility in California, travelling at the speed of light on its 158-million-mile journey.
This groundbreaking transmission wasn’t just a random act of space exploration whimsy. It coincided with two upcoming NASA missions to Venus, DAVINCI and VERITAS, scheduled for launch later this decade.
The selection of “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” was no accident either. According to a statement from NASA, the song’s themes of strength, beauty, and empowerment resonated with the mission’s goals of studying Venus’ harsh environment and its potential to harbour life.
The legendary Missy Elliott herself endorsed the choice, stating, “I still can’t believe I’m going out of this world with NASA through the Deep Space Network when ‘The Rain’ becomes the first ever hip-hop song to transmit to space! I chose Venus because it symbolizes strength, beauty, and empowerment and I am so humbled to have the opportunity to share my art and my message with the universe!”
Social media erupted in celebration of this unique marriage of music and space exploration. Fans lauded the selection of a powerful female artist and a genre often underrepresented in scientific endeavours. The hashtag #NASASendsHipHop trended as music enthusiasts and space geeks alike revelled in this historic moment.
While it’s unlikely any Venusian lifeforms will be breaking it down to Missy Elliott anytime soon, this transmission serves as a symbolic gesture of human creativity reaching out to the cosmos. It’s a reminder that the pursuit of knowledge and exploration can be infused with a touch of fun and artistic expression.