Context:

Strauss' 'Blue Danube' waltz was finally transmitted into space nearly fifty years after it missed being included on NASA's Voyager missions. The European Space Agency used its large radio antenna in Spain to send the music towards Voyager 1, the farthest human-made object from Earth, which is currently over 15 billion miles away. The music was expected to surpass Voyager 1 within 23 hours, traveling at the speed of light. The Vienna Symphony Orchestra played 'Blue Danube' during the transmission, which was part of the celebrations for Johann Strauss II's 200th birthday and the 50th anniversary of ESA's founding. The waltz is famous among space enthusiasts for its role in Stanley Kubrick's film '2001: A Space Odyssey', yet was not included on the Voyager's Golden Record launched in 1977.

Dive Deeper:

• Strauss' 'Blue Danube' waltz was broadcasted into space by the European Space Agency nearly fifty years after it was excluded from NASA's Voyager missions. The iconic piece, performed by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, was chosen to celebrate the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss II and the 50th anniversary of ESA's establishment.

• The transmission utilized ESA's large radio antenna in Spain, which aimed the broadcast at Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, currently located over 15 billion miles away. The music, traveling at the speed of light, was anticipated to catch up with the spacecraft in approximately 23 hours.

• The project is a part of yearlong celebrations in Vienna, honoring the contributions of Johann Strauss II, who was born in the city in 1825. These celebrations included the space transmission of his famous waltz as a symbolic gesture.

• The event also acknowledges the historical significance of Strauss' music in the field of science fiction, notably its inclusion in Stanley Kubrick's influential 1968 film '2001: A Space Odyssey', which further cemented its association with space exploration themes.

• Despite its cultural significance, the 'Blue Danube' waltz was not included on the Golden Record carried by the Voyager missions launched in 1977, which featured a variety of music meant to represent Earth's culture to potential extraterrestrial audiences.