10 songs to get you psyched for our space exhibition

From our team behind Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? discover the top tracks that inspired them when creating this out-of-this-world exhibition. If we’ve piqued your interest, listen to the full playlist here.

Starman by David Bowie

Of course, Bowie had to make our top 10! From musing if there’s life on Mars to dreaming about a possible starman, this music icon has been on our minds throughout the making of our exhibition. As scientists, museum workers and general space-nerds we all want to imagine there’s life out there.

In our exhibition you’ll get to see a LaserSETI device designed to scan the sky for signals and lasers – possible signs of advanced space travel from other civilisations.

Aliens Exist by Blink-182

There’s never been more evidence to suggest that life could exist beyond Earth, so this song had to make our top 10.

Do you think Blink-182 are wrong? Come along to our exhibition and have your say. We’re asking all our visitors what they think about all the small things and all the big things too, such as is there other life out there and if there is, should we make contact?

Star Trek original theme tune by Alexander Courage

How could we not be inspired by Star Trek! As one of the biggest cultural phenomenon of recent times, it tells the story of a mission to explore worlds beyond our own.

In the show, the crew of the USS Enterprise set out “to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before”. You too can do this in our new exhibition, where you’ll get to wrap your hands around a piece of the Moon, feel the surface of Mars and sniff one of Jupiter’s moons.

Saturn by Nao

Nao was inspired to name her song and album after the second largest planet in our solar system after experiencing Saturn Return – an astrological concept marking a period of significant life change, usually around the ages 27-30, when Saturn returns to the same place as it was at the time of your birth. Whether or not you believe in astrological influences, there’s something in our exhibition for you.

In the past, scientists dismissed the possibility of life near Saturn because of its distance from the Sun. However, new evidence suggests that Enceladus, one of Saturn’s moons, could have all the ingredients for life in subsurface hydrothermal vents. Discover what intriguing creatures call Earth’s hydrothermal vents home in our exhibition.

The Planets by Gustav Holst

Chosen by our lead scientist Professor Caroline Smith, this famous symphony takes her back to her childhood. She says, “this is my favourite version, my Mum has this recording from when it was first issued in 1958. Her mum, my Nanna, used to work on radar development during World War II and she always used to say I got my brains from her.”

Listening to this track as she saw the exhibition take shape felt like a full circle moment for Caroline, and we think it’s the perfect soundtrack to begin the search for life.

The Irish Rover by The Dubliners and The Pogues

Did somebody say rover? Our exhibition contains a full-scale replica of the Rosalind Franklin ExoMars Rover that is due to go to Mars in 2028. While it’s not technically an ‘Irish’ rover, it was created by the European Space Agency, and our team – led by Siobhan from Ireland – couldn’t resist. Any excuse for an Irish tune!

The Rosalind Franklin ExoMars Rover will be on a mission to look for both extinct and extant life on Mars. Its improved drilling technology means it can sample deeper underneath Mars’s surface than any missions before.

Walking on the Moon by The Police

This one speaks for itself! Chosen by our marketing team, we couldn’t leave this classic out of our top 10 list.

You might not be able to walk on our little bit of the Moon but you can touch it. Visit our exhibition and snap a selfie with your hands wrapped around a piece of the Moon. Spoiler alert – it’s not made of cheese!

Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra

Have you ever wished you could play among the stars or wondered what spring is like on Jupiter or Mars? Well, Frank Sinatra did, and we have the answer.

See what Mars was like when its surface was dotted with oceans, and possibly life. Our exhibition contains an immersive, interactive projection space that not only allows you to experience a day on the red planet but also opens up a window into the planet’s past.

Sleeping Satellite by Tasmin Archer

This one is all about space exploration, and it was chosen by Caroline for that very reason. She says, “it’s a bit of a one hit wonder but still catchy and it has great lyrics. The sleeping satellite in the title refers to the Moon.”

But it’s not just our Moon we’re keen to explore, scientists think the Galilean moons of Jupiter, though icy and cold on the surface, could have hydrothermal vents below that could support life. Come to our exhibition and see an engineering prototype of part of the spacecraft JUICE, which is currently on its way to Jupiter’s Galilean moons.

Plus, have a go at designing your own space mission to these moons. Will your mission make it to Jupiter or will it fail before getting beyond Earth’s atmosphere? Come and put your space tech skills to the test.

Flying Song also known as the ET theme tune by John Williams

Pitched by our interpretation lead Sinead, we couldn’t leave everyone’s favourite alien off the list. ET inspired a whole generation to look to the stars and with our new exhibition we hope to do the same.

With interactive games, real Martian meteorites and the oldest thing you’ll ever see, we want to inspire a new generation to love space.

If you’re over the Moon with this top 10 list, you can listen to the full playlist here. We hope you have as much fun listening to it as we did making it.

While you’re listening, book your tickets to Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? – we’d love to see you there.