NASA releases to Spotify its playlist of wake-up songs for Artemis II crew

NASA has released to the streaming service Spotify a roster of the songs it has played to wake up the Artemis II crew on its mission around the moon.

The space agency’s Spotify playlist includes Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” and Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure,” among others. All songs were selected by the crew and their families, multiple news outlets report.

The songs are played daily by mission control in Houston.

NASA’s chief historian Brian Odom told NPR that the songs serve as a way to keep the crew on track and connected, noting that in a moment when they feel farther from home than ever, music ties them back to their families, culture and Earth.

The tradition of playing wake-up songs for astronauts dates back to 1965 during the Apollo era.