MUSIC IN SPACE
G.V.C.
BY: Isabel M
LEARN HOW THE ASTRONAUTS PLAY MUSIC IN SPACE
G.V.C.
BY: Isabel M
LEARN HOW THE ASTRONAUTS PLAY MUSIC IN SPACE
Space. This one small word represents so many different galexies and universes. Some astronauts spend months, even years in a tiny space shuttle. The only thing that can help them manage being so far away from friends, family, and even Earth itself, music.
Astronauts, in fact play musical instruments, while they are cooped up in one little space shuttle. If you ask one they will probably say that it keeps them connected to Earth. It helps them feel like they aren't even on a space shuttle. "On longer missions there is sometimes enough free time to pursue their love for music." It makes them feel like they are still on Earth.
Most people wonder,"Why do astronauts bring instruments up into space?" Astronauts actually play them to comfort or to soothe them if they feel homesick. It distracts them about being so far away from Earth. Astronaut Carl Waltz says that, "the strangest thing about playing music in space, is that it's not strange at all. In most homes, there's a musical instrument or two, and I think it's fitting that in a home or in space you have musical instraments as well. It's natural. Music makes it seem less like a spaceship and more like a home."
Not all astronauts play musical instruments in space. Some of them don't know how. They have to find something else to distrct them like talk with other astronauts, or maybe work the control panels of the shuttle.
Astronauts say that "instruments sound the same in microgravity as they do on Earth. What changes is the mechanics of playing." For instance, if you were to play a keyboard in space, you would have to position yourself in a certain way, like shoving yourself under the keyboard or holding tightly onto it so you don't float away while playing it.
You can play an instrument inside of a space shuttle, but not out in plain space. Instruments will only make noise if air can go thru the instrument, but there is no air in plain space. So if you played a guitar, a violin, or any other instrument that air has to go thru outside of a space shuttle, it won't make a sound.
Astronauts may not get to see people outside of their shuttle, but we can still see them. Sometimes astronauts record themselves playing an instrument up in space, and we can see it down here from Earth by having them video record themselves while they are up in space. They could even have concerts that are being played live while they are up in a space shuttle, millions of miles away from Earth.
Before you bring an instrument up into space you have to do some tests on them before you bring them up into space with you. You have to make shure that there are no dangerous fumes or anything thing like that by putting them into a machine for over three days. Then, a sensor in the machine will tell you if the instrument is safe too bring into the shuttle with you. If you are on Earth, the fumes wont affect you, the could just go out a window, but if you are up in space, they can't escape the shuttle. If the fumes can't escape then they could get into your lungs and could cause some problems like lung cancer.
Some astronauts play music in bands while they are up in space. "Some astronauts formen a band that preformes here on Earth. Perhaps someday they'll record a CD so all of us can enjoy music from the heavens."
If you play an instrument in a space shuttle, it will most likely sound the way it sounds here on Earth. There is just one difference. If you play an instrument in a space shuttle, you may here a soft whirring sound in the backround. That would be normal to hear if you were playing an instrument in a space shuttle.
People have been playing music in space for now five decades. That is a very big accomplishment. The first song that was acally recored up in space was Jingle Bells. Some of the other astronauts brought some real jingle bells into the space shuttle so they could get into the holiday spirit.
Sometimes people are cooped in one tiny space shuttle with nothing but a keyboard, some dried food, drinks, a writing utensil, and something to write on but they can still entertain themselves with just that. "Astronaut Carl Waltz once lived in a space station for about six and a half months. That's a long time to look down at Earth, and not be able to touch it."
Lots of people probably think, "How do you play a flute of any other wind wood and brass instrument while you are up in space?" That is a very good question. It would be tricky to play a flute in a space shuttle because you would be in zero-gravity, even the smallest push of air could push you around the space shuttle and bounce you all around the room. You would have to strap your feet to the ground with a certain type of tape that would stick to the bottom of the shuttle.
Lots of astronauts play musical instruments while they are up in space. They usually play alone, but they can also play in groups too. Scientists usually have to do tests on them to make sure that the instruments are safe to bring up into space with you. Musical instruments can be very helpful to someone if they are up in space. As I said before, they can help you manage the separation from friends, family, and even Earth itself.
THE END
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