SpaceX astronauts prepared for historic launch by blasting out AC/DC

By Scott Munro
( Classic Rock )
published

Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley prepared for SpaceX launch by blasting out AC/DC - and got a Black Sabbath wake-up call ahead of docking procedure

Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley
Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley (Image credit: Joe Raedle - Getty)

On Saturday, SpaceX made history when they launched astronauts into orbit for the very first time. 

NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley were onboard the Crew Dragon capsule on top of the Falcon 9 rocket when it blasted-off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. 

Saturday’s launch came after bad weather prevented the initial lift-off on May 27 – and it’s emerged that on their way to the launch pad last Wednesday, the pair had a playlist which included AC/DC (opens in new tab) classic Back In Black.

SpaceX commentator Lauren Lyons explained that Behnken and Hurley chose the track because it had been nine years since astronauts launched from launch pad 39A at the facility to make the point that “they are back,” according to Space.com.

We can only assume the same playlist was used when the astronauts prepared for Saturday’s launch.

It’s also emerged that on Sunday, ahead of the capsule’s docking procedure with the International Space Station, Behnken and Hurley were woken by the gentle, psychedelic sounds of Black Sabbath (opens in new tab)’s Planet Caravan. Space.com say the song was specifically chosen by the pair as they’re big Sabbath fans.

Behnken and Hurley are expected to spend up to four months onboard the ISS before returning home.

Scott Munro
Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers and magazines as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. After initially joining our news desk in the summer of 2014, he moved to the e-commerce team full-time in 2020. He maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott grew up listening to rock and prog, cutting his teeth on bands such as Marillion and Magnum before his focus shifted to alternative and post-punk in the late 80s. His favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Ned's Atomic Dustbin and Drab Majesty, but he also still has a deep love of Rush.