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Space is often seen as a remote and highly technical frontier, a vast and abstract realm, seemingly reserved for scientists and engineers, far removed from the texture and rhythm of everyday life. Yet, some 400 kilometers above Earth, aboard the International Space Station, the human spirit persists.
As part of Hungary’s HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) national astronaut mission, violinist Luis Luque Alvarez, formerly a member of ESA’s Music for Space initiative, has crafted and recorded two musical pieces that are now onboard the International Space Station (ISS). With the support of JAMSS, the recordings are stored on an SD card housed within the Kirara #6 cube, which also carries Dr. Petra Bombicz’s scientific experiment, as part of the same mission.
‘Crystallization in Microgravity: From Hungary to the ISS’ –
This short original piece, composed by Luis Luque Alvarez and performed alongside his wife, Ágnes Szelcsányi, is inspired by two intertwined themes. First, it offers a musical interpretation of Dr. Petra Bombicz’s pioneering experiment, the first-ever study of hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks in microgravity.
Notably, this is the first musical composition to depict the process of crystallization in space. The piece follows the scientific process unfolding inside the Kirara #6 cube: it begins in stillness, reflecting the quiet microgravity environment, then builds in intensity as molecules begin to diffuse toward the seed. Finally, the music settles into a structured harmony, mirroring the formation of a symmetrical crystal lattice.
Woven into this journey is a leitmotif from the Hungarian folk song “Csillagok, Csillagok…” (“Stars, Stars, Shine Brightly…”), a melody collected by Béla Bartók, the renowned Hungarian pianist, composer and ethnomusicologist. This tune, echoing Hungary’s rich musical heritage, serves as both metaphor and bridge, linking the nation’s musical past to its scientific future, now orbiting Earth, close to the stars it sings of.
‘Hungarian National Anthem’ –
The second piece is a recording of the Hungarian National Anthem, composed by Ferenc Erkel and performed by the students of Kálmán Kittenberger Elementary and Art School in Nagymaros. This touching rendition marks the first time the national anthem has been carried into space—a powerful cultural milestone that celebrates Hungary’s lasting influence on Western classical music. Performed by young students, the anthem becomes a symbol of continuity and aspiration, inspiring future generations to look toward the stars with curiosity and hope.
As science drives us toward new frontiers, it is art that carries our stories, weaving emotional and cultural threads that connect us to our past. In the silence of space, music becomes a reminder of where we come from, and of who we are, even as we venture farther into the unknown.
For readers interested in exploring the role of music beyond Earth, we invite you to delve into an article by Luis, co-authored with Dr. David Andrew Green (Academic Coordinator, Space Medicine Team, European Astronaut Centre) and space psychologist Dr. Iya Whiteley. The paper traces the deep-rooted connection between music and spaceflight—from symbolic representations to lived experiences on board. It documents around 57 musical instruments flown to space, many of which were creatively adapted to meet the constraints of microgravity. These instruments, along with digital music and shared listening rituals, have played a vital role in crew wellbeing, offering comfort, connection, and cultural continuity in orbit.
As we look toward more frequent missions to low Earth orbit and beyond, the piece argues for a more deliberate inclusion of music as both a psychological support and a meaningful form of artistic expression in space. Read the full article here.