NASA to beam Beatles tune into space

[CyberHippie]

U.S. space agency NASA plans to send a Beatles hit across the universe on Monday, saying it is the first song ever to be beamed directly into deep space.

The song chosen is, appropriately, Across the Universe, and it will be sent out 40 years to the day after it was recorded.

The track will be transmitted through the Deep Space Network, an international array of antennas that supports space exploration missions, at 7 p.m. ET on Feb. 4.

The network will direct the song toward Polaris, the North Star, 431 light years away.

The event marks the 50th anniversary of NASA and the 45th anniversary of the Deep Space Network.

Former Beatle Paul McCartney sent a message of congratulations to the space agency, adding "Send my love to the aliens. All the best, Paul."

John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono also hailed the achievement.

"I see that this is the beginning of the new age in which we will communicate with billions of planets across the universe," she said.

It's not the first time NASA has beamed up a Beatles tune.

In 2005 McCartney performed the song Good Day Sunshine during a concert that was transmitted to the International Space Station.

Here Comes the Sun, Ticket to Ride and A Hard Day's Night have also been played to wake astronaut crews in orbit.

The public around the world has been invited to participate in the event by simultaneously playing the song at the same time it is transmitted by NASA.

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2008/02/01/across-universe.html