The European Space Agency (ESA) has just released the songs that have accompanied astronauts since manned space flights began. The first song heard was a Hawaiian tune aboard the Gemini 7 spacecraft in December 1965. A few years later, astronauts on the Apollo moon missions brought with them the first cassette tapes of Dvorak's New World Symphony and songs from The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel or The Moody Blues. And of course the unforgettable Frank Sinatra theme Fly me to the Moon . Returning to the present, the last of the European astronauts sent into space, the Dutch André Kuipers, has brought to the International Space Station an extensive musical list that includes songs by the Marillion band, Pink Floyd, the Dutch group Fluitsma & Van Tijn and guitarist Harry Sacksioni.
Why do astronauts often take music to space? According to Steve Robinson of NASA, it is one of the most personal components of luggage, since "where your music is there is a small version of your own home," says Robinson. On the other hand, according to the ESA, various studies suggest that music has a positive effect on memory . It also improves performance, learning and attention . And "it can aid relaxation by causing the body to release hormones like oxytocin, which also stimulate teamwork and empathy ."
