Johann Strauss II’s iconic orchestral piece ‘By the Beautiful Blue Danube’ is set to take a literal place among the stars as the European Space Agency broadcasts it into space.
Johann Strauss II‘s iconic orchestral piece ‘By the Beautiful Blue Danube‘ will take a literal place among the stars when the European Space Agency broadcasts it into space. This week, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra will perform the piece live, while a radio antenna in Spain beams the music out at the speed of light.
The Blue Danube is a major river in Europe, stretching approximately 2,350 kilometers from its source in Germany to the Black Sea.
It flows through nine countries, including Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine.
The river's name comes from the German word 'Donau', meaning Danube.
Its waters support a diverse range of aquatic life, with over 70 species of fish found in its basin.
The ‘Blue Danube‘ broadcast is celebrating two significant milestones: the 50th anniversary of the ESA’s creation and 200 years since Strauss‘ birth. In 1977, NASA launched the Voyager 1 and 2 missions, which included 27 pieces of music, as well as other sounds and images, on matching ‘Golden Records.’ However, the ‘Blue Danube‘ was notably absent from this historic endeavor.
The ESA aims to rectify this historical oversight, with director Norbert Kettner stating, ‘The absence of the most famous of all waltzes from the 1977 Voyager Golden Record is a cosmic mistake.‘ This event marks a significant step towards rectifying this error and showcasing Strauss‘ masterpiece among the stars.
On Saturday, the radio antenna in Spain will take a break from supporting uncrewed European missions to study the surface of Mars, create a map of the stars, and take up-close pictures of the sun. The antenna, operated by the ESA, is about 115 feet across and has been instrumental in various space-related projects.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is a space agency of the European Union, responsible for coordinating and implementing Europe's space policy.
Established in 1975, the ESA has its headquarters in Paris, France.
The agency is involved in various space-related activities, including 'space exploration' , Earth observation, telecommunications, navigation, and space science research.
With 22 member states, the ESA has a significant presence in the global space industry.
The Vienna Symphony Orchestra’s performance will be livestreamed online, with the audio converted into an electromagnetic wave that will be transmitted into space at the speed of light. This technology demonstrates the agency’s ability to transmit not only scientific data but also human art over long distances.
The concept of space exploration dates back to the early 20th century, with the establishment of the first space agency, 'NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)', in 1958.
Since then, numerous countries have followed suit, creating their own space agencies to explore space and conduct related research.
Today, there are over 70 recognized space agencies worldwide, each with its unique mission and objectives.
