NASA Beams The Beatles Into Space

On February 4th, 2008, at 7PM EST, NASA will beam The Beatles' "Across the Universe" into space using the powerful Deep Space Network. The Deep Space Network is used to communicate with satellites and robotic space probes. This transmission is intended to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Explorer 1 mission, and the 45th anniversary of the Deep Space Network. The song is going to be beamed towards Polaris, the North Star. Since radio waves travel at the speed of light, they will arrive at Polaris in roughly 431 years.

The Goldstone Deep Space Network dish.
Image Courtesy of NASA/JPL/California Institute of Technology.

Paul McCartney was quoted as saying,

"Amazing! Well done, NASA! Send my love to the aliens. All the best, Paul McCartney."

Clear skies!