NASA beams Missy Elliott’s hip-hop song to Venus via space network; here’s why

In a cosmic first for hip-hop, NASA beamed Missy Elliott’s iconic song “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” to Venus, marking a unique intersection of music, technology and space exploration.

On Friday, July 12, at 10:05 a.m. PDT, NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN), a global network of giant radio antennas, beamed the inspirational message and lyrics of Elliott’s hit to the planet Venus. This broadcast marks only the second time the DSN has sent music into space. The first was “Across the Universe” by the Beatles.

“Both space exploration and Missy Elliott’s art are about pushing boundaries,” said Brittany Brown, director of the Digital and Technology Division of the Office of Communications at NASA Headquarters in Washington, who led the collaboration with Elliott’s team. “Missy already has experience incorporating space-centric storytelling and futuristic visuals in her music videos, so the opportunity to collaborate on something out of the ordinary is really fitting.”

The transmission was sent from the 34-meter-wide Deep Space Station 13 (DSS-13), nicknamed “Venus,” in California, traveled about 254 million kilometers at the speed of light and reached Venus in about 14 minutes.

The choice of Venus as the recipient was no accident. “I still can’t believe I’m leaving this world with NASA via the Deep Space Network when ‘The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)’ is the first hip-hop song ever to be transmitted into space!” said Elliott. “I chose Venus because it symbolizes strength, beauty and empowerment, and I’m so honored to have the opportunity to share my art and message with the universe!”

This celestial collaboration coincides with two upcoming NASA missions to Venus: DAVINCI, scheduled for launch in 2029, and VERITAS, scheduled for launch in 2031. Both missions will rely on the DSN to transmit critical data to Earth.

In operation since 1963, the DSN plays a critical role in NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program, enabling communications with spacecraft exploring the depths of our solar system.