Blast your best playlist into space

(Credit: European Space Agency)

Mars needs women, and astronauts need your MP3s.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is holding a contest to send the best astronaut-friendly playlist into space.

ESA will put the winner's playlist onto an iPod, then deliver it via the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), an unmanned ship making its maiden voyage in the fall of 2007. If all goes well, the iPod will reach the astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

(Note to ESA: Don't forget to deliver an iPod charger.)

Unfortunately, you can only participate if you're under 18 and from one of the countries participating in the ATV program: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, or Switzerland.

That's a space-bummer for those of us in the U.S. (and those of us who can't even remember being under 18), but I've been inspired to put together my own space-inspired playlists anyway.

Take a look at my astro playlists and post your own out-of-this-world lists in the TalkBack section below.

Playlist: Blast-off and reentry mix

1. Space Oddity - David Bowie
2. They Punctured My Yolk - The Flaming Lips
3. Space Hos - DANGERDOOM
4. Planet Telex - Radiohead
5. Planet of Sound - Pixies
6. Yourself: A Majesty of Infinite Space - The Detachment Kit
7. Astro - The White Stripes
8. Space Rock - Weezer
9. Apollo Kids - Ghostface Killah
10. The Day That Lassie Went to the Moon - Camper Van Beethoven

Playlist: Floatin' around in space mix

1. California Stars - Billy Bragg and Wilco
2. He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's the Pilot - Grandaddy
3. The World Has Turned and Left Me Here - Weezer
4. Rocket - Def Leppard
5. 9th Wonder - Digable Planets
6. Lost in Space - Kool Keith
7. Mars Attacks - Aesop Rock
8. Transmitting Live From Mars - De La Soul
9. Earth People - Dr. Octagon
10. Let's Go Moon Some Cars - Beck

[caroline.mccarthy]

Um, Tim...

You forgot that semi-obscure '80s German Bowie-takeoff, Peter Schilling's "Major Tom (Coming Home)." Duhhhh.

Additionally, you really ought to give a listen to the Long Winters' "The Commander Thinks Aloud." It's great when they play it live.

[tmoynihan]

I didn't forget...

It just didn't make the cut. I have weird tastes.

(Cue Caroline putting together her own astronaut playlist and posting it here.)

[nincompoop1]

My Best Playlist for Space

10. Silver Wings - Jimmy Buffett
09. Exodus - Bob Marley
08. If I Had a World to Give - Grateful Dead
07. Ramble On - Led Zeppelin
06. Drifter in the Dark - Ween
05. Some Fantastic (Ivory and Ivory) - Barenaked Ladies
04. It Overtakes Me - The Flaming Lips
03. Intergalactic - Beastie Boys
02. The Stars Are Projectors - Modest Mouse
01. It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock and Roll) - AC/DC

[tmoynihan]

Nice list!

6 + 7 are back-to-back gems -- "Ramble On" even has the added bonus of being about LOTR.

[jw1776]

Space Playlist

Space Oddity - David Bowie
Planet Claire - B-52s
Mothership Connection - Parliament
Adolescent Funk - Funkadelic
Rocket Man - Elton John
Also Sprach Zarathrustra
Flying in Blue Dream - Joe Satriani
Ride the Wind - Poison
Wherever I may Roam - Metallica
Learning to Fly - Pink Floyd
Ray of Light - Madonna

[tmoynihan]

Nice touch...

Nice touch with "Also Sprach Zarathrustra" -- that would get me fired up in space.

RIP Stanley Kubrick.

[Alegoo92]

Um I think your forgetting...

The Planets anyone?

Mars?

[jrossty]

songlist 4 Astronauts

Champagne Supernova - Oasis
Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Linger - Cranberries
Give me one Reason - Tracy Chapman
Against the Wind - Bob Seger
Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
Wheel in the Sky - Journey
Mustang Sally - Buddy Guy
Man on the Moon - REM
Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Star - Merle Haggard
Another one Bites the Dust - Queen

[tmoynihan]

Got a good laugh...

...out of the Tracy Chapman selection. Nice work!

[doublebullout]

My NASA Mix

I made a "NASA Mix" playlist for myself a few weeks ago. Here's mine:

Countdown - Rush
Walking on the Moon - The Police
Space Oddity - David Bowie
Mystery Planet - The Bomboras
Stellar - Incubus
Rocket Man - Elton John
Sirius / Eye in the Sky - The Alan Parsons Project
Satellite - Guster
Come Sail Away - Styx
Earthshine - Rush
True Companion - Donald F a gan
The Launch / Cool the Engines - Boston
Major Tom - Peter Schilling
Man on the Moon - REM
Supermassive Black Hole - Muse
Radar Rider - Riggs
Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra
21st Century Sha-La-La-La Girl - Def Leppard
Columbia - Eric Johnson
I'm Your Moon - Jonathan Coulton
Satellite - Dave Matthews Band
Telstar - The Ventures
Pleiades - King's X

[tmoynihan]

No space voyage is complete...

...without Styx in the mix.

Also, did Crave's forum filters originally block Donald F-a-gan's last name from your post? Unintentional comedy...