Missy Elliott’s Song Blasted into Space
Missy Elliott lyrics were launched into space as NASA transmitted her song “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” 158 million miles from Earth to Venus, the space agency announced Monday.
The Journey to Venus
It took nearly 14 minutes for the hip-hop track to reach its destination. This Missy Elliott song is only the second song ever transmitted into deep space, following the Beatles’ “Across the Universe” in 2008.
Missy Elliott’s Reaction
“My song ‘The Rain’ has officially been transmitted all the way to Venus, the planet that symbolizes strength, beauty, and empowerment,” Missy Elliott said in a social media post. “The sky is not the limit, it’s just the beginning.”
Venusian Conditions
There is actually rain on Venus, but due to temperatures reaching 860 degrees Fahrenheit, the drops, which fall from clouds made of sulfuric acid, evaporate “back into a never-ending toxic cloud,” according to NASA.
Recognition and Success of “The Rain”
Rolling Stone ranked “The Rain” one of its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” in 2021. The 1997 song debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 129,000 copies sold in the first week of release.
Current Tour and Personal Connection
The singer is in the middle of her “Out of This World” tour. Venus is her favorite planet, according to NASA.
NASA’s Perspective
“Both space exploration and Missy Elliott’s art have been about pushing boundaries,” said Brittany Brown, director of the Digital and Technology Division of NASA’s Office of Communications. “Missy has a track record of infusing space-centric storytelling and futuristic visuals in her music videos, so the opportunity to collaborate on something out of this world is truly fitting.”
The Transmission Process
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California sent the transmission into space at 10:05 a.m. PDT on Friday. They used the space agency’s Deep Space Network, which has an array of giant radio antennas, to beam the song toward Venus. The song was transmitted at the speed of light.
Previous Space Music Endeavors
While the Beatles and Missy Elliott songs are the only ones transmitted into deep space, music has been launched into outer space before. “The Sounds of Earth,” also known as the “Golden Record,” was sent into space on Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft in 1977 as part of a message “intended to communicate a story of our world to extraterrestrials,” according to NASA. The phonograph record was a 12-inch.
References:
CBS News – https://www.cbsnews.com/news/missy-elliott-song-outer-space-venus-nasa/
NASA – https://www.nasa.gov/general/nasa-transmits-hip-hop-song-to-deep-space-for-first-time/
