Artemis II launched successfully on the 1st of April, embarking on a test run to take new images of the lunar surface and lay the foundations for future moon landings. The Orion spacecraft ‘Integrity’ has travelled around the moon, taking humanity the furthest from Earth they’ve ever been, and is due to return to Earth tomorrow, the 10th of April. The milestone flight marks NASA’s first crewed mission outside low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.

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The mission has been a huge cultural event across all media platforms, from the spectacle of the launch in Florida last week, to the fascinating new photographs of the far side of the moon. At the heart of the project has been the four-person crew, a diverse set of astronauts each defying convention. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and specialist Jeremy Hansen have each endeared themselves to a global audience over the last week and a half, through emotional moments and their sheer wonderment at life in space.

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Yesterday NASA revealed the astronauts’ bespoke wake-up playlist, a collection used to rouse them each morning in outer space. In a post on Instagram, the organisation said “Each track was selected by the Moon crew, continuing a tradition that started more than 50 years ago. Stay tuned to find out which songs they’ll choose next.” For yesterday’s selection, the crew started the day with Queen and David Bowie’s 1981 collaborative masterpiece ‘Under Pressure’. The single was the second UK Number One for Queen and third for Bowie, whose lifelong fascination with space saw him create alien alter-ego Ziggy Stardust and write numerous songs themed around astronauts, like tracks ‘Space Oddity’, ‘Life On Mars’, and ‘Ashes To Ashes’.

Another song that has drawn attention on social media is British indie-rock group Glass Animals 2019 single with US rapper Denzel Curry, ‘Tokyo Drifting’. Glass Animals replied to NASA’s update with a simple comment reading “this is the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me in my life ever.” but it has been Curry’s ecstatic raving that has captured the spotlight. On social media site X, he has enthusiastically declared himself “The First Rapper Played in Space” and made the fantastic statement “even aliens f*ck with my sh*t!”

The playlist currently sits at 9 tracks, with NASA suggesting more may be added before the mission’s completion. Other cuts include Chappell Roan’s 2020 single ‘Pink Pony Club’ which became an international mega-hit several years after its release, the appropriately gentle track ‘Sleepyhead’ by Young & Sick, and emotive, atmospheric country tune ‘Lonely Drifter’ by Charley Crockett.

The Orion spacecraft is currently nearing the end of its journey home, and is due to splash down near San Diego tomorrow night at 8PM EDT (1AM BST). You can follow the updates from NASA and the crew of ‘Integrity’ through their official Instagram and X accounts, with plenty more photos and maybe a playlist add-on yet to come.

Her label 4AD shared the news via their official social media last week on Thursday (September 28), to share the news. The posts stated: “Yesterday, after 10 years of research, the International Astronomical Union have named the asteroid 2013 TF19, ‘Fraser’, after Elizabeth Fraser,”. Also adding: “It does not pose a threat to humankind and will not collide with Earth for millions of years. It can only be viewed using an advance telescope but luckily is available to see on @nasa’s website.”

Yesterday, after 10 years of research, the International Astronomical Union have named the asteroid 2013 TF19, “Fraser”, after Elizabeth Fraser.

Learn more about the astroid on @nasa‘s website. https://t.co/KdNvLv3JGK pic.twitter.com/rpojT9ULfI

— 4AD (@4AD_Official) September 28, 2023

Fans took to social media to share their delight at a legacy being cemented in such a way, with one fan saying: “One of the coolest things I’ve ever seen! For someone who truly deserves it for all the faraway places she takes us with her music.” and another noting: “Wow! The honour couldn’t go to a better singer”.

The asteroid was finally named after 10 years of research after being first discovered in 2013. The asteroid poses no threat to humanity and isn’t set to collide with Earth for millions of years. The asteroid isn’t visible with the naked eye but can be seen via an advanced telescope, of which images from said telescope can be found on NASA’s website.

It does indeed seem appropriate for Elizabeth Fraser to have an asteroid named after her, given her whimsical vocal style with Cocteau Twins, which has been described as otherworldly since the band released their debut Garlands in 1982. Cocteau Twins started to garner a strong following after their 3^rd album, Treasure, which Robert Smith of the Cure called: “the most romantic sound I’ve ever heard”.

After more releases across the 1980’s like Victorialand and Blue Bell Knoll, Fraser and Cocteau Twins released the highly influential Heaven or Las Vegas in 1990, with the band finally receiving mainstream success, landing at number 7 on the UK Albums Chart. The band followed this up with Four-Calender Café in 1993 and Milk & Kisses in 1996 before breaking up a year later in 1997 whilst attempting to record their ninth album.

Elizabeth Fraser and her partner, Damon Reece released an self-titled EP last year under the name Sun’s Signature, with an extended version being shared recently on August 25^th of this year.

Extra information about the asteroid can be found here