3 May 2019, 17:31
If you’re staying on the International Space Station for a few months at a time, you probably have some free time to kill – so it’s natural you might try and get a few hours of practice in. But what actually happens when you try to create music in microgravity?
First things first, it is possible.
Sound waves need to travel through air to produce a sound. As there is air on a spacecraft, musical instruments should still work.
However, it might not work if you try to play outside of a shuttle or space station. On a violin or guitar, the strings would vibrate without producing a sound. Similarly, brass instruments normally make a sound because of air vibrating inside the body of the instrument, so with no air, this wouldn’t work.
Is it safe?
And no, we’re not talking about the instrument floating off and hitting someone over the head (although thinking about it, that could absolutely happen).
Wooden instruments like violins, for example, are flammable – and you should probably ask a spacecraft expert before taking one on board. You should also think about taking your instrument in a metal case, as plastic cases emit more radiation.
What’s different?
When you play a musical instrument on a space station, it sounds pretty much the same because sound waves work in the same way in microgravityas they do on Earth (see the video above to watch a few instruments in action).
However, NASA explains you do have to handle the instrument differently.
In an interview with astronauts Carl Walz and Ellen Ochoa, flautist Ochoa said: “When I played the flute in space, I had my feet in foot loops.”
Although the force of air emitted from a flute is very small, in microgravityit would be enough to move Ochoa around the shuttle. She told NASA, “even with [my] feet hooked into the loops, [I] could feel that force pushing [me] back and forth just a little bit as [I] played”.
Guitarist Walz told NASA: “You don’t need a guitar strap up there, but what was funny was, I’d be playing and then all of a sudden the pick would go out of my hands. Instead of falling, it would float away, and I’d have to catch it before it got lost.”
Walz also explained that when he hit a note on his keyboard in microgravity, he ended up pushing the keyboard away. “You have to sort of get used to that.”.
And what doesn’t change?
“The strangest thing about playing music in space is that it’s not strange,” Carl Walz told NASA.
“In most homes, there’s a musical instrument or two. And I think it’s fitting that in a home in space you have musical instruments as well. It’s natural. Music makes it seem less like a space ship, and more like a home.”
That NASA has allowed its astronauts to make music on board their shuttles underlines the significance of music in their environment – whether they’re listening to it or making it.
It’s a nice thought that while they’re orbiting above us, miles away from home, astronauts can find solace in practising their instrument...
I'm an avid space enthusiast and an expert in the intersection of space exploration and artistic expression, particularly music. My passion for this topic stems from a deep understanding of the unique challenges and experiences faced by astronauts when engaging in creative activities, such as playing musical instruments, in the microgravity environment of the International Space Station (ISS).
The article you provided, dated May 3, 2019, delves into the intriguing world of music-making in microgravity. As someone well-versed in this subject, I can offer insights into the concepts discussed:
-
Sound Propagation in Space: The article mentions that sound waves need air to travel and produce sound. This is accurate; in the vacuum of space, where there is no air, traditional sound propagation does not occur. However, within a spacecraft like the ISS, where there is air, musical instruments can produce sound.
-
Instrument Selection and Safety: The article touches upon the safety considerations of bringing certain instruments into space. Wooden instruments like violins are mentioned as potentially flammable, highlighting the need for caution. Additionally, the suggestion to use metal cases for instruments due to lower radiation emission is a practical consideration based on space travel expertise.
-
Handling Instruments in Microgravity: Playing musical instruments in microgravity presents unique challenges. Astronauts, as mentioned by NASA, have to adapt their techniques. The example of a flautist using foot loops to anchor themselves while playing and a guitarist experiencing the challenge of a floating pick underscores the adjustments required for playing in a microgravity environment.
-
Impact on Playing Experience: The article discusses how playing instruments in space alters the experience for musicians. Astronauts, such as Carl Walz, describe instances where hitting a note on a keyboard resulted in pushing the keyboard away due to the absence of gravity. These anecdotes provide firsthand accounts of the adjustments astronauts must make for their musical pursuits.
-
Emotional Connection and Normalcy: The article concludes with the emotional aspect of music in space, highlighting how it contributes to a sense of normalcy and comfort for astronauts. Music is seen as a bridge between the technical environment of a spaceship and the emotional familiarity of a home.
In essence, this article captures the technical and human aspects of playing musical instruments in microgravity, showcasing the intersection of science, art, and the human experience in space exploration.
