11 Surprising NASA Wakeup Songs You Need to Know

Since the Apollo Program, NASA has used music to rouse astronauts, and occasionally, these wakeup tunes can be quite unusual.

1. STS-111 - "I Got You Babe" from Groundhog Day

On June 19, 2002, the Space Shuttle Endeavour crew was awakened by a quirky version of "I Got You Babe" by Sonny and Cher, featured in the Groundhog Day soundtrack. The song was selected because the crew, much like Bill Murray's character in Groundhog Day, found themselves in a repetitive cycle, attempting to land for several days due to unfavorable weather. In the film, Murray's character wakes up daily to the same song at 6 a.m. NASA's records highlight:

Commander Ken Cockrell experienced this déjà vu scenario on his third consecutive mission, spending extra days in orbit awaiting favorable Florida weather. While STS-80 successfully landed in Florida, STS-98 and STS-111 had to divert to California's alternate site.

You can listen to the wakeup call (WAV file), which includes a playful reference to Groundhog Day at the conclusion.

While "I Got You Babe" served as the final wakeup song for STS-111, the mission began with "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" by Will Smith. This track was specifically chosen for Mission Specialist Valery Korzun, who assumed command of the International Space Station that day.

2. STS-44 - Patrick Stewart

On November 25, 1991, the Atlantis crew received a special wakeup message from Patrick Stewart, who was then portraying Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation. As the TNG theme played, Stewart delivered the following message:

"Space: the final frontier. This is the voyage of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Its ten-day mission: To explore new methods of remote sensing and observation of the planet Earth... To seek out new data on radiation in space, and a new understanding of the effects of microgravity on the human body...To boldly go where two hundred and fifty-five men and women have gone before!" "Hello Fred, Tom, Story, Jim, Tom, and especially Mario -- this is Patrick Stewart, choosing not to outrank you as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, saying that we are confident of a productive and successful mission. Make it so."

Mission Specialist Mario Runco was a devoted Star Trek enthusiast, which explains the unique wakeup call.

3. STS-26 - Robin Williams

On September 30, 1988, Robin Williams greeted the crew with a cheerful, "Good morning, Discovery!" mimicking his iconic style from the 1987 film Good Morning, Vietnam. This wakeup call marked the first Shuttle mission following the 1986 Challenger tragedy, making the lighthearted gesture particularly meaningful. The message was followed by a customized version of the "Green Acres" theme, rewritten with Shuttle-related lyrics, and two additional songs. (NASA's archives do not specify the lyrics or the other songs.)

4. STS-9 - A Nonstop Work Schedule

From November 28 to December 8, 1983, the STS-9 crew operated in continuous shifts, leaving no room for traditional wakeup calls. (STS-9 was notable for carrying the first Spacelab module and having the largest crew at the time—six astronauts.) This around-the-clock work pattern was also adopted for STS-51-F in 1985 and numerous subsequent missions.

5. STS-29 - William Shatner

On March 16, 1989, the Discovery crew began their day with the iconic "Star Trek" theme, followed by a message from William Shatner praising the astronauts for their mission. Mission Control then played fight songs from the universities attended by the crew members. CAPCOM G. David Low concluded with the playful remark, "Discovery, [this is] Houston -- beam me up, Scotty!"

Shatner also delivered a wakeup call for STS-133 on March 7, 2011:

6. STS-29 - A Heartwarming Moment with Kids

For this charming moment on March 18, 1989, I’ll directly quote NASA's historical account of wakeup calls:

Mission Control transmitted recordings of astronauts' children enthusiastically saying things like, "Wake up, Dad, it's time to get out of bed and start your day" and "Hi, Daddy, it's your sweet daughter reminding you to rise and shine." This was followed by Louis Armstrong's classic, "What a Wonderful World." The crew replied by playing Simon and Garfunkel's "Homeward Bound."

Discovery successfully landed later that day, marking the end of STS-29. Simon and Garfunkel's "Homeward Bound" has been used five times to welcome astronauts back to Earth.

7. STS-37 - Tom Selleck as "Magnum PI"

On April 11, 1991, the Atlantis crew was awakened by the theme song from "Magnum PI," followed by a message from Tom Selleck directed at Mission Specialist Linda Goodwin: "Good morning, and a special wakeup to Linda. This is Tom Selleck, and I hope you had a restful night, but it's time to get up and get to work." The crew landed safely later that day, and NASA's records highlight that Goodwin was "a huge fan of Selleck."

8. STS-53 - The Singing Dogs

The STS-53 crew unofficially called themselves "Dog Crew I," adopting the nickname "Dogs of War" because their mission was intended to be the final one dedicated to Defense Department operations. On December 3, 1992, Mission Control played a rendition of "Jingle Bells" by The Singing Dogs, a creation of Dr. Demento, as their first wakeup call. Carl Meade from Mission Control announced, "Crew dogs, wake up. We’ve got work to do." Commander David Walker replied, "Good morning, Carl. Dogs of War are wide awake." The following morning, the crew was awakened with Nancy Cassidy's "I Wanna Be a Dog."

Interestingly, a Dog Crew II was formed for STS-69. Starting on September 8, 1995, this crew enjoyed a series of dog-themed wakeup calls, including Elvis's "Hound Dog," the "Scooby Doo" theme, "Bingo" (sung by Pilot Kenneth Cockrell's five-year-old daughter's kindergarten class), the "Rin Tin Tin" theme, The Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night," the "Underdog" theme, "He's a Tramp" from Lady and the Tramp, and finally "Snoopy's Theme" from Peanuts. In 2001, Cockrell was honored with "Who Let the Dogs Out" as a nod to his Dog Crew II days. You can listen to Cockrell's amused reaction (WAV file) to the song, following a humorous exchange with Mission Control.

9. STS-107 - "Amazing Grace"

STS-107 marked Columbia's final mission; the orbiter disintegrated during reentry, resulting in the tragic loss of all seven crew members. The wakeup calls during this mission carry profound emotional weight. On January 19, 2003, "Amazing Grace" was played for Mission Specialist Laurel Clark, who was on her first spaceflight. The song, played on bagpipes at her wedding, was later performed at her funeral. That same morning, Pilot William "Willie" McCool was awakened with Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees."

Later in the mission, on January 29, 2003, John Lennon's "Imagine" was played for McCool and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut. McCool and Ramon reflected on the absence of visible borders from space, expressing hope for global peace. Ramon translated parts of the song into Hebrew. "Imagine" was played at Ramon's funeral, concluding with a recording of his voice from the Shuttle, reciting Lennon's lyrics in Hebrew: "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." You can listen to an MP3 of the song and the astronauts' remarks, though it may bring tears to your eyes.

10. "Star Wars" Theme

One of the most anticipated wakeup songs is undoubtedly the "Star Wars" theme by John Williams. Music from the "Star Wars" franchise has been played eight times for NASA wakeup calls, beginning in 1984 and continuing through missions in 1988, 1993, 1996 (featuring both the main theme and "Darth Vader's Theme"), 1999, 2007, and 2009. The 2009 selection (MP3) was the lively "Cantina Band" theme, which the crew humorously described as a "loony wakeup song" (and one hopes NASA acknowledges that Han shot first).

11. STS-135 - "Good Day Sunshine," "Man on the Moon," "Rocket Man," "Run the World (Girls)"

The final Shuttle mission featured an impressive lineup of music, including a personalized wakeup message from Elton John alongside his classic "Rocket Man," a longtime NASA favorite. Beyoncé sent a recorded message and her empowering anthem "Run the World (Girls)." Michael Stipe of R.E.M. delivered an a cappella rendition of their hit "Man on the Moon", noting, "I recorded 'Man on The Moon' for NASA in Venice, Italy, where Galileo first showcased his eight-power telescope to the Venetian government. In 1610, he wrote 'The Starry Messenger' (Sidereus Nuncius), a work that forever changed humanity's understanding of the universe." The highlight came on July 15, 2011, when Sir Paul McCartney personally woke the crew, saying, "Good morning, guys, wake up! And good luck on this, your final mission. Well done," as The Beatles' "Good Day Sunshine" played. The last wakeup song of the Shuttle program was Irving Berlin's "God Bless America," performed by Kate Smith, with Mission Control staff standing at attention during the playback. While the Shuttle program has concluded, the ISS continues to receive regular wakeup calls.

You can watch video of all the STS-135 wakeup calls!

More to Explore

This list barely touches the surface of the fascinating wakeup call history documented by NASA Historian Colin Fries. You can explore his comprehensive history (PDF link) for a wealth of additional details, including links to many modern wakeup call recordings. It’s worth mentioning that the Beach Boys feature prominently, and Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" is also a frequent choice.