Vienna’s mission to broadcast Johann Strauss II’s “The Blue Danube” Waltz into deep space.
Mission Statement
For Johann Strauss II’s 200th birthday and the 50th anniversary of the European Space Agency, Vienna is embarking on a mission of cosmic proportions – sending The Blue Danube Waltz to its destined home among the stars.
In our collective imagination, The Blue Danube Waltz has long been celebrated as the ultimate Anthem of Space – famously immortalized in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Yet, surprisingly, this iconic waltz was not included on either of the Voyager Golden Records – a collection of humanity’s greatest achievements that was sent by NASA to reach potential extraterrestrial life back in 1977.
On 5/31/2025 Vienna is setting the record straight. Through the combined efforts of the prestigious Wiener Symphoniker (Vienna Symphony Orchestra) and in close collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), The Blue Danube Waltz will be broadcast to the farthest reaches of the universe, creating a timeless musical bridge between humanity and potential life forms out there.
This mission is both a tribute to the past and a testament to the future – a Viennese Waltz that will echo through space forever.
If you encounter issues navigating this section, please send us an email at space@vienna.com
Send your note to the stars!
To successfully launch our mission, we need you to join us. Claim your favorite note from The Blue Danube Waltz and send it to the stars. Once all 13,743 notes are claimed, the Viennese Waltz will be sent into space.
Participation is free.
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An Interstellar Live Broadcast
On May 31, 2025, Johann Strauss II’s The Blue Danube Waltz will be transmitted into space.
Performed by the Wiener Symphoniker at the MAK (Museum of Applied Arts) in Vienna, Austria, the definitive Anthem of Space will be transmitted towards Voyager 1 by ESA's Deep Space Antenna located in Cebreros, Spain.
5/31/2025, 02:30 PM CDT
Let’s Make Aliens Dance
Be part of history and join us!
Let’s Make Aliens Dance
Be part of history and join us!
Let’s Make Aliens Dance
Be part of history and join us!
Let’s Make Aliens Dance
Be part of history and join us!
Let’s Make Aliens Dance
Be part of history and join us!
From Vienna Into the Universe.
Vienna, the world’s capital of music, is located in the heart of Europe. Its historic concert halls, prestigious ball events, and visionaries like Mozart, Beethoven, and Johann Strauss II have shaped a vibrant cultural legacy of creativity and excellence.
Born into a renowned Viennese musical family in 1825, Johann Strauss II, celebrated as The King of Waltz, had the charisma and reach that it took to become the world’s first real pop star. His masterpiece, The Blue Danube Waltz, beautifully embodies Vienna’s spirit – a harmonious blend of grace, tradition, and a timeless testament to the city. Each year, the composition takes center stage at the iconic New Year’s Concert that is watched by millions worldwide.
Every evening, 10,000 music enthusiasts listen to live classical music in Vienna – something that is simply unheard of in any other city in the world. The Wiener Symphoniker is the city's main concert orchestra and calls both the Musikverein and the Wiener Konzerthaus homes, where it performs a substantial number of its concerts. With 128 members, the orchestra is among the best in Europe and famous for its romantic repertoire. Founded to make classical music accessible to all, the Wiener Symphoniker will reach new heights in 2025, when – for the very first time – it performs for the vastness of outer space and any potential life forms that are out there.
Visiting Vienna in the Johann Strauss II Anniversary Year
Everything you need to know about Vienna's mission:
The selection for the two Voyager Golden Records, launched from Cape Canaveral (Florida, USA) in 1977, was a limited collection of music and cultural artifacts. These included 116 images, natural sounds from Earth, spoken greetings in 55 languages, and 27 of the world’s greatest songs.
Notably, neither of the Voyager probes – now the most distant human-made objects in space – included Johann Strauss II’s ultimate Anthem of Space, The Blue Danube Waltz. Find out what may have happened when this iconic piece was left behind on Earth.
Visit esa.int to find out more about ESA.
Play Video
Visit esa.int/Estrack to learn more about ESA’s global deep space communication network (Estrack).
Watch a short trailer on the Estrack network.Play Video
Carmen Possnig, ESA Astronaut Reserve
I think the Waltz into Space mission is a great idea because I believe The Blue Danube Waltz is the unofficial anthem of space and ultimately belongs there.Play Video
Kara Talve, Chief Composer for The Simpsons
The Blue Danube Waltz absolutely needs to be sent into space. It is the iconic anthem of space and it deserves to be there and I think the mission of Waltz into Space is an incredible idea.Play Video
Petr Popelka, Chief Conductor of the Wiener Symphoniker
Not only this planet, but the whole universe is our home and the music of Johann Strauss is an important stone in the mosaic of music history and I'm so happy to make a new recording of The Blue Danube Waltz and send it out to space.Play Video
Marin Alsop, Chief Conductor Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
I totally support the Mission Waltz into Space and I think the Blue Danube Waltz has to be included as part of this planet and the next.Play Video
Brian W. Cook, Assistant director to Stanley Kubrick
Of course I support the idea that The Blue Danube Waltz should be sent back up into space.Play Video
Markus Mooslechner, ESA Consultant, Terra Mater Studios
So I gladly support the Waltz into Space initiative, because – of course – The Blue Danube Waltz should be heard not only by humans but by ET and this is the perfect moment to get ourselves heard out there. Because the Blue Danube Waltz is the soundtrack of the universe.Play Video
Lilli Hollein, General Director of the MAK – Museum of Applied Arts
What a beautiful idea to send the Blue Danube Waltz into outer space with Waltz into Space with this unofficial anthem and to have the galaxy swinging to this incomparable tune. At the MAK, we are totally in line with this idea as a museum that looks at the history of design and also to the future and of course to how do we get to space so The Blue Danube Waltz is already there – We're joining!Play Video
Walter Werzowa, Composer and professor of film music
I support the Waltz into Space mission. Johann Strauss should not only be here on earth, he should be in the universe, he should be in space. He will connect the aliens with us and I dream of an alien dancing the Viennese Waltz with us.Play Video