NASA drops Artemis II moon mission playlist with astronauts' wake-up songs

NASA has released the official wake-up music playlist for the four astronauts of the Artemis II mission this week, continuing a spaceflight tradition that began over half a century ago. The playlist was shared from NASA's headquarters and social media channels, marking a cultural milestone for the upcoming lunar flyby mission scheduled for September 2025. This initiative connects the modern crew to the legacy of Apollo-era astronauts who also selected music to be played during their missions, serving to boost crew morale and engage the public in the human aspects of space exploration. The Artemis II playlist features a diverse and personal selection of songs chosen by astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. The tracks range from classic rock anthems to contemporary pop, reflecting the individual personalities and tastes of the crew members. NASA's release included the reasoning behind some selections, with songs often tied to personal milestones, family connections, or inspirational messages relevant to the historic nature of their journey, which will be the first crewed mission to the Moon since 1972. This tradition dates back to the Gemini program in the 1960s and was famously utilized during the Apollo missions, where songs like 'Fly Me to the Moon' became iconic. By reviving and publicizing this custom, NASA aims to humanize the high-tech endeavor, making the astronauts more relatable to a global audience. The playlist release is part of a broader public engagement strategy building excitement for the Artemis program, which seeks to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and eventually prepare for missions to Mars.