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In a new collaboration between music and space exploration, Nasa has transmitted hip-hop artist Missy Elliott's iconic song "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" to Venus.
This is a historic first for the genre in deep space communication. Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California used the Deep Space Network (DSN) to beam the song's inspirational message and lyrics towards Venus, Elliott's favourite planet.
The transmission, which travelled approximately 158 million miles at the speed of light, took nearly 14 minutes to reach Venus.
This cosmic endeavour utilised the 112-foot wide Deep Space Station 13 (DSS-13) radio dish antenna, aptly nicknamed "Venus," located at the DSN's Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in California.
Missy Elliott is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She is one of the most influential female rappers in in the business. Throughout her career, Missy Elliott has won numerous awards, including multiple Grammy Awards. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019 and has been praised for breaking barriers for women in hip-hop.
Elliott expressed her excitement about the event, stating, "I still can't believe I'm going out of this world with NASA through the Deep Space Network when 'The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)' becomes the first ever hip-hop song to transmit to space!" She chose Venus as the destination because it symbolises strength, beauty, and empowerment to her.
This unique collaboration aligns with NASA's upcoming missions to Venus, including DAVINCI and VERITAS, scheduled for launch in 2029 and 2031, respectively. These missions will rely on the DSN to transmit critical data back to Earth, highlighting the network's vital role in space exploration.
Brittany Brown, director of the Digital and Technology Division at NASA's Office of Communications, emphasised the synergy between space exploration and Missy Elliott's artistry, noting the artist's history of incorporating space-themed elements in her music videos.
The transmission of "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" marks only the second time the DSN has beamed music into space, following The Beatles' "Across the Universe" in 2008.
This event not only celebrates the intersection of music and space technology but also showcases the DSN's capabilities in facilitating communication with distant celestial bodies.
As Missy Elliott's music reaches new frontiers, this collaboration between NASA and the hip-hop icon demonstrates the power of art and science to inspire and push boundaries, both on Earth and beyond
