European Space Agency Beams Strauss’ Blue Danube to Deep Space

To celebrate the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss II and the 50th anniversary of the European Space Agency (ESA), Strauss' iconic "Blue Danube" waltz was transmitted into space, aimed at Voyager 1, the most distant human-made object. The Vienna Symphony Orchestra performed the waltz, which was beamed from ESA's 35-meter antenna at the Cebreros deep space station in Spain, symbolically correcting its omission from the original Voyager Golden Records. The event also featured a public celebration in New York's Bryant Park and live screenings in Vienna and near the ESA antenna. The waltz holds special cultural significance, having been popularized as a space anthem through its use in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey and is often associated with space missions like the International Space Station's docking maneuvers. The project, named "Waltz Into Space," embodies a message of optimism and the universal language of music, inspiring the hope that extraterrestrial life might one day hear the transmission. This unique celebration also reinforces Vienna's status as a global music capital and honors the enduring legacy of Strauss' music.