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WALTZ INTO SPACE: Vienna and the ESA successfully sent the Blue Danube Waltz into space to mark Strauss’ 200th birthday

On May 31, 2025, the Vienna Tourist Board and the European Space Agency (ESA), in partnership with the Wiener Symphoniker (Vienna Symphony Orchestra), successfully transmitted Johann Strauss II’s masterpiece “The Blue Danube Waltz” into space as an electromagnetic wave at the speed of light from the ESA Deep Space Antenna DSA 2 in Cebreros, Spain. The signal will catch up with NASA’s Voyager 1 space probe just 23 hours later, on Sunday, June 1st at 20.30 hrs CET (2.30 P.M. EST).

Correcting a cosmic omission from 1977

The “Waltz into Space” mission has corrected a historical omission: the Blue Danube Waltz was not immortalized on the Voyager Golden Record when it was launched in 1977. It is regarded as the unofficial anthem of space, in no small part due to Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig: “Once again, the Austrian capital has presented itself as an innovative world capital of music – a city that not only preserves its heritage but also generates impetus for the future with visionary ideas.”

“In 2025, Vienna is celebrating the 200th birthday of its Waltz King with 65 productions over 250 performance days all over Vienna. Under the motto “King of Waltz. Queen of Music”, the Vienna Tourist Board has chosen a progressive approach to Johann Strauss II, which reached its brilliant climax with ‘Waltz into Space’.”

Norbert Kettner, CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board: “The successful realization of the ‘Waltz into Space’ mission is a testament to Vienna’s unique ability to blend tradition with innovation. We are proud to have collaborated with the European Space Agency, whose willingness to support this exceptional project is an honor and far from a given. Our sincere gratitude goes to all partners and supporters who made this cosmic celebration of Vienna’s cultural heritage possible.”

STREAM IT UP! The Danube Waltz at the speed of light

Interstellar concert: On May 31, 2025, at 20:30 CET, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Petr Popelka performed a galactic concert at the MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, with a live broadcast of the Danube Waltz successfully transmitted into space at 21:30 CET.

Live broadcasts of the concert took place in Vienna and Madrid, as well as in Cebreros at the ESA Deep Space Antenna DSA 2. 

On Sunday afternoon, June 1, 2025, 2.500 music enthusiasts gathered in New York’s Bryant Park for a public screening of the concert celebrating that The Blue Danube reached the distance of the Voyager 1 space probe. This milestone comes 48 years after the waltz was omitted from the Golden Records.

SpaceNotes

Music enthusiasts engaged in an interactive experience with 'SpaceNotes,' symbolically launching a note of the Blue Danube Waltz into space. Less than 51 days after the mission was announced, all 13,743 notes were assigned – approximately 270 notes per day, sponsored by people from 92 different countries. Austria topped the rankings with 2,700 scores claimed, followed by Germany (2,200), the United Kingdom (2,000), Italy (1,600), and the United States (1,400).

Numerous prominent "SpaceNote Ambassadors" expressed their support, some through video messages, including Austrian Federal President Alexander van der Bellen, Vienna’s Mayor Michael Ludwig, and Spanish opera star Serena Sáenz.

50th anniversary of ESA & Strauss’ 200th birthday: Music meets the sciences

Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the ESA, explains: “Our technology makes it possible to transmit not only scientific data but also human art over vast distances. In 2025, we have a wonderful double anniversary: the 200th anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss II and the 50th anniversary of the ESA. I am delighted that we celebrated both by broadcasting a live performance of the Danube Waltz into space from our Cebreros ground station

Norbert Kettner, Director of the Vienna Tourist Board, adds: “Stanley Kubrick’s '2001: A Space Odyssey' made the Blue Danube Waltz the anthem of space, yet it was missing from the 1977 Voyager Golden Record — a cosmic oversight we have now corrected. With 'Waltz into Space,' the legendary composition was finally transmitted into the cosmos, bringing this iconic melody to the stars."

In 2025, the European Space Agency (ESA) will hold its Living Planet Symposium (LPS) for the first time in Vienna from June 23 to 27, 2025. The LPS is the most significant international event in the field of Earth observation, bringing together political decision-makers, industry representatives, scientists, and space professionals.

In addition to the specialist conference (LPS), the "Space in the City" festival will take place at Karlsplatz from June 24 to 26, 2025, presenting the innovative possibilities and applications of Earth observation and the generated satellite data to a broad audience. At this festival, the CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board, Norbert Kettner, will present the "Waltz Into Space" mission."

LINKS

At photo.vienna.info you can access more than 1,000 photos of Vienna for your report after completing a short sign-up process; video footage is available at footage.vienna.info.

CONTACTS FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Vienna Tourist Board
Helena Steinhart
Tel.: +43 676 88929 364
helena.steinhart@vienna.info

CONTACT PR AGENCY US
dci
Tel.:+1 917 655 2184
chiara.peretti@aboutdci.com

CONTACT PR AGENCY UK
Lemongrass Marketing
Tel.: +44 (0) 1865 237 990
alexandra.liste@lemongrassmarketing.com

ESOC
The European Space Operations Centre media@esa.int 

Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Julia Brüggemann
Head of Marketing & Communication
Tel.: +43 1 58979-15
j.brueggemann@wienersymphoniker.at

CREDITS

The concept was born from a collaborative creative workshop between the Vienna Tourist Board and Jung von Matt DONAU.

  • Project Lead: Vienna Tourist Board

  • Co-operation Partner: European Space Agency

  • Creative agency: Jung von Matt DONAU

  • Microsite programming: Thomas Strobl

  • Mission film:

    • Director:  Bart Timmer
    • Production Studio: Chelsy
    • Sound Studio: soundfiler
    • Cast (Mission Director): Adam Astill
    • Cast (Assistant): Hasan Dixon

     

  • Show in Vienna:

    • Creative Director: Bode Brodmüller
    • Producing Show: Produktionsallianz Services
    • Event-Planning:  Stargate Group Werbeagentur
    • Event-Technology:  Habegger Austria
    • Kinetic Lights: WHITEVoid
    • Broadcasting:  TV Skyline