NYU Abu Dhabi Students’ Compositions To Be Streamed From International Space Station

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) in partnership with the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) is making headlines with its first-ever ASTROBEAT – Music from Space competition. This pioneering venture has opened doors for students to witness their musical creations being catapulted into space, to be played aboard a SpaceX rocket. The winners of this extraordinary competition, American student Summer Reid from NYU Steinhardt (who will be visiting NYUAD in Spring 2024) and NYUAD Emirati alumni Nadine Kabbani, have the unique honor of having their original compositions streamed from the International Space Station (ISS) during a special event set for this September.

This initiative marks NYUAD's debut in integrating art with space exploration, setting a significant benchmark in the university's pursuit of interdisciplinary and innovative projects. The ASTROBEAT project, coded SUP-2023-09, gains financial backing from the Malta Council for Science & Technology through the Space Upstream Programme, with the ISS payload opportunity being provided by Nanoracks via its Space Act Agreement with NASA's US National Lab.

Image Courtesy: NASA/Unsplash

According to Associate Professor of Music at NYUAD, Carlos Guedes, who played a pivotal role in the selection of the winners, this collaboration with MCAST not only illuminates the exceptional talent among their students but also underscores NYUAD's dedication to nurturing art through avant-garde projects. "Seeing our students' compositions launched into space is a significant achievement," Guedes stated, emphasizing the enthusiasm surrounding this melding of musical artistry with space exploration.

This event not only elevates the participating students' work to a global platform but also highlights the innovative educational approaches of NYUAD and MCAST, fostering a unique intersection between the arts and scientific advancement. The initiative serves as a testament to the boundless possibilities that arise from the merger of creativity with technology, promising a future where art transcends traditional mediums to find new expressions even beyond our planet.