Name that wake-up tune for final shuttle flights

You could compose songs that will awaken astronauts on the final two scheduled shuttle flights, or at least help select them.

NASA today announced a contest based on a tradition of astronaut wakeup music that dates to the Apollo era. Check out the details here for "Space rock: The search for the last wakeup songs."

Astronauts' family and friends usually pick the tunes, which Mission Control beams up to the crew when their designated sleep period ends.

For the next mission, to be flown by Discovery in November, voters can pick from a "top 40" list of songs that have played on previous missions, ranging from Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's breezy "Over the Rainbow" to the harder rock "Enter Sandman" by Metallica.

The top two vote-getters will be played during the mission.

"We're looking forward to hearing which songs the public wants played for us," Discovery commander Steve Lindsey said in a statement. "It's going to be a difficult choice, because there have been so many great songs played over the years."

Two original songs will be played during the final scheduled flight targeted for Feb. 26, by Endeavour.

Age-appropriate compositions that "in some manner relate to or suggest human spaceflight," lasting one to two minutes, must be submitted by 5 p.m. EDT Jan. 10.

After screening by NASA, a selection will be posted online for a public vote beginning Feb. 8.

"Space shuttle crews really enjoy the morning wake-up music," Endeavour mission commander Mark Kelly said in a statement. "While we don't have the best quality speaker in the space shuttle, it will be interesting to hear what the public comes up with. We are looking forward to it."

IMAGE: On Feb. 18, 2010, STS-130 mission specialist Stephen Robinson played a guitar in the International Space Station's new Cupola while space shuttle Endeavour remained docked with the station.