Strauss’ ‘Blue Danube’ Is Beamed into Space as Vienna Celebrates with a Concert

 Members of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra perform "The Blue Danube" waltz as it is transmitted into deep space towards Voyager 1. in Vienna, Austria, on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP)
Members of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra perform "The Blue Danube" waltz as it is transmitted into deep space towards Voyager 1. in Vienna, Austria, on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP)
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Strauss’ ‘Blue Danube’ Is Beamed into Space as Vienna Celebrates with a Concert

 Members of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra perform "The Blue Danube" waltz as it is transmitted into deep space towards Voyager 1. in Vienna, Austria, on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP)
Members of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra perform "The Blue Danube" waltz as it is transmitted into deep space towards Voyager 1. in Vienna, Austria, on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP)

Strauss’ “Blue Danube” waltz has finally made it into space, nearly a half-century after missing a ride on NASA’s twin Voyager spacecraft.

The European Space Agency’s big radio antenna in Spain beamed the waltz into the cosmos Saturday. Operators aimed the dish at Voyager 1, the world’s most distant spacecraft more than 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers) away. Traveling at the speed of light, the music was expected to overtake Voyager 1 within 23 hours.

The Vienna Symphony Orchestra performed the “Blue Danube” during the space transmission, which actually sent up a version from rehearsal.

It's part of the yearlong celebration marking the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss II, who was born in Vienna in 1825. The Strauss space send-off also honors the 50th anniversary of ESA's founding.

Launched in 1977 and now in interstellar space, each of the two Voyagers carries a Golden Record full of music but nothing from the waltz king.

His “Blue Danube” holds special meaning for space fans: It's featured in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 sci-fi film “2001: A Space Odyssey.”



Saudi Pavilion Launches Cultural Exchange Program at Expo 2025 Osaka

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Pavilion Launches Cultural Exchange Program at Expo 2025 Osaka

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has launched its cultural exchange program, designed to provide professional and personal development for staff from participating pavilions. This initiative aims to share Saudi Arabia's rich cultural heritage and global influence with new team members.

Director of the Saudi Pavilion Eng. Adel Alfayez said that the program celebrates unity through diversity and fosters collaboration among pavilions, enabling the exchange of stories and the building of connections.

Alfayez welcomed the new team members, highlighting their journey through the Kingdom's diverse heritage, landscapes, and economy. This experience will help them build meaningful relationships with visitors and enrich their careers in preparation for Expo 2030 Riyadh.

The program's inaugural phase includes 13 Saudi staff members distributed across five international pavilions, with 15 visiting international staff members rotating through key roles in the Saudi Pavilion for three months. Additional participants will join in later rounds.

Visiting staff will undergo comprehensive training, covering Saudi culture, occupational health and safety, pavilion operational objectives, and visitor experience management. A job shadowing system will provide direct support from Saudi colleagues, ensuring immersion in the Kingdom's culture and skill acquisition.

The Saudi Pavilion will host over 700 events during Expo 2025 Osaka, including live shows, performing arts, and heritage activities. Visitors can enjoy a rich cultural experience featuring an augmented reality exhibit, as well as musical performances and special events marking national occasions.