Uploaded January 2016 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
collectSPACE.com — On June 24, 1996, the STS-78 crew on board space shuttle Columbia began their fifth day in space by Mission Control playing David Bowie's "Space Oddity." It was the first time the song was played from Earth to space (17 years later, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield would record his own version of the song while on the International Space Station, broadcasting it down to Earth).
On STS-78, the song was played for commander Tom Henricks, who before rising to the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, had at one time been "Major Tom."
David Bowie died on Jan. 10, 2016, two days after his 69th birthday: collectspace.com/inmemory_davidbowie
collectSPACE.com — On June 24, 1996, the STS-78 crew on board space shuttle Columbia began their fifth day in space by Mission Control playing David Bowie's "Space Oddity." It was the first time the song was played from Earth to space (17 years later, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield would record his own version of the song while on the International Space Station, broadcasting it down to Earth).
On STS-78, the song was played for commander Tom Henricks, who before rising to the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, had at one time been "Major Tom."
David Bowie died on Jan. 10, 2016, two days after his 69th birthday: collectspace.com/inmemory_davidbowie
