Out of This World: Inside the Artemis II Crew’s Lunar Wake-Up Playlist
There is a long-standing tradition at NASA that turns the sterile environment of a spacecraft into a personal sanctuary: the wake-up call. For the crew of the Artemis II mission, this tradition involved a curated selection of tracks designed to bridge the gap between the deep vacuum of space and the comforts of home. As the crew returns to Earth following their historic journey around the moon, NASA has officially released the playlist that soundtracked their mornings.
A Tradition Born from the Apollo Era
The practice of playing music to wake astronauts isn’t new. According to NASA, the tradition began more than 50 years ago, with NASA’s chief historian Brian Odom noting that the practice dates back to 1965. These songs serve as more than just alarms; they are a way for ground control to get the crew on track and provide a poignant reminder of Earth.
The Artemis II Soundtrack: From Pop Hits to Soul
The Artemis II crew—commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—selected a diverse eight-song list. The playlist blends contemporary pop, soul, and classic rock, reflecting the personal tastes of the astronauts and their loved ones.
The official Artemis II wake-up list includes:
- “Sleepyhead” by Young & Sick
- “Green Light (feat. André 3000)” by John Legend and André 3000
- “In a Daydream” by Freddy Jones Band
- “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan
- “Working Class Heroes (Work)” by CeeLo Green
- “Good Morning” by Mandisa and TobyMac
- “Tokyo Drifting” by Glass Animals and Denzel Curry
- “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie
Personal Stories Behind the Songs
For the astronauts, these tracks weren’t just random selections; they were connections to their families. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen shared that his family suggested “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie, which became his favorite track of the mission. Similarly, astronaut Victor Glover revealed that his wife replaced one of his original choices with “Good Morning” by Mandisa and TobyMac, describing it as a “really pleasant” way to start the day inside the Orion spacecraft.
Not every wake-up call went perfectly. During the playback of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” the recording cut off before the chorus. Commander Reid Wiseman was audibly disappointed, noting that the crew had been “eagerly awaiting the chorus” during the mission recording.
Mission Milestones: More Than Just Music
Even as the music provided a mental break, the Artemis II mission achieved significant technical milestones. Launched on April 1, the crew embarked on a 10-day mission that saw them travel farther from Earth than any humans in history, reaching a maximum distance of 252,756 miles. They became the first humans in over half a century to loop around the moon, capturing images of the far side of the moon in daylight and documenting an eclipse in space via the Orion spacecraft.
Key Takeaways: Artemis II Wake-Up Tradition
- Historical Roots: The tradition of musical wake-up calls started in 1965.
- Crew Curation: Songs are selected in advance by the astronauts and their friends and family.
- Distance Record: The crew reached a record-breaking distance of 252,756 miles from Earth.
- Public Access: NASA has shared the full eight-song playlist via Spotify for the public to enjoy.
As NASA continues its Artemis program, these playlists remain a humanizing element of space exploration, proving that even when traveling hundreds of thousands of miles away, a familiar song can develop the void of space sense a little more like home.