Wake Up Call for Astronauts
Posted on February 28, 2010
The Nantwich News Blog reports Manchester Camerata musicians helping a local primary school win a
Space Station music contest
“Children at a Nantwich primary school have helped to compose wake-up music for International Space Station residents!
The youngsters from Wyche Primary beat two other North West schools to win a competition run as part of Manchester Metropolitan University”s celebration of National Science and Engineering Week.
Pupils from Wyche, St. Paul’s in Walkden, and St. Barnabas in Clayton were given a helping hand by members of the Manchester Camerata.
Musicians worked with children composing new music for the wake-up calls based on astrophysical data – such as radio waves emitted by celestial bodies and visual images of space.
The three entries were judged by a Russian rocket scientist and cosmonaut, with the Camerata recording the winner for future early-morning duty.
MMU Science Week organiser Conway Mothbi said: “The call will be heard 250 miles above the earth by Expedition 14 cosmonauts under conditions of weightlessness. This is a great honour as it is a UK first.”
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