NASA's Artemis II Mission Features Wake-Up Songs Selected by Mission Control

NASA's Artemis II mission, which involves critical tests in deep space, incorporates a tradition of wake-up songs played each morning for the crew. Mission Control selects the songs to help maintain the astronauts' schedule and morale. The practice originated in the early days of human spaceflight during the Apollo era and continued through the space shuttle program.

The songs often include requests from family members or selections related to mission milestones. For Artemis II, the wake-up songs heard so far include “Sleepyhead” by Young & Sick, “Green Light” by John Legend featuring Andre 3000, “In a Daydream” by Freddy Jones Band, and “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan.

These details come from a video posted on TikTok by Scientific American and a playlist maintained by Reddit contributors.

NASA has used music to wake astronauts since the Apollo missions.

The short clips played each morning assist in structuring the crew's day. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield described the practice in an interview with Popular Mechanics.

“On board, the crew's eyes are opening, they are floating out of their sleeping bags, the world is in the window and they are listening to a song that's important to them. For us, it's a chance to touch base with home.”

The tradition connects the crew to Earth while they are approximately 252,756 miles away during the mission.

in the Artemis II wake-up songs increased after a TikTok video showed the crew waking to “Pink Pony Club,” which was cut off before the chorus during a NASA livestream. Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman commented on the interruption. Mission Control replied, “Oh, we’ll try again next time.