Read, Watch or Listen

The European Space Agency (ESA) transmitted Johann Strauss II's "Blue Danube" waltz to Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft, from a Spanish antenna. The transmission, a part of Strauss' bicentennial celebrations and ESA's 50th anniversary, used a rehearsal recording by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. The music, traveling at light speed, is expected to reach Voyager 1 within a day. This fulfills a missed opportunity from the 1970s when the waltz wasn't included on the Voyager Golden Records.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.