NASA Transmits First Hip-Hop Song to Venus via Deep Space Network

NASA made history on July 12 by transmitting Missy Elliott's iconic track, 'The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)', to Venus via its Deep Space Network (DSN). The song was beamed from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California at 10:05 a.m. PDT, marking the first hip-hop song to reach outer space.

The historic event saw 'The Rain' travel approximately 254 million kilometers from Earth to Venus, a journey completed in about 14 minutes at the speed of light. The transmission was executed using the 34-meter-wide Deep Space Station 13 (DSS-13) antenna, located at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex near Barstow, California. This station, also known as Venus, honors the Venus Radar Experiment of March 1961.

"Both space exploration and Missy Elliott's art have been about pushing boundaries", stated Brittany Brown, director of NASA's Digital and Technology Division. Elliott herself expressed awe and gratitude, saying, "I still can't believe I'm going out of this world with NASA through the Deep Space Network. I chose Venus because it symbolizes strength, beauty, and empowerment".

This groundbreaking transmission follows NASA's earlier venture in 2018, when the Beatles' 'Across the Universe' became the first song sent into deep space.

In parallel with this cultural milestone, NASA is gearing up for two ambitious missions to Venus. The DAVINCI mission (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging) is scheduled for launch by 2029, while the VERITAS mission (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy) is expected to follow by 2031. These missions aim to enhance our understanding of Venus's atmosphere and geological features.

Additionally, NASA and the DSN are collaborating with the European Space Agency's Venus mission, EnVision, further cementing their commitment to exploring the mysteries of Earth's neighboring planet.