Since the early days of motion picture production, film scores have helped define our emotional and aesthetic perception of stories of innumerable genres. This phenomenon is particularly true with space movies and television. The music from films and television such as The Day the Earth Stood Still, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Battlestar Galactica have helped define the public's awareness of space almost as much as the films themselves. In some cases, they have redefined the norms of film music. Star Wars not only revived the popularity of orchestral film scores but also helped stimulate an increased public interest in classical orchestral music around the world.

This work will tell the story of the music and the composers who have helped define the sound of space for over a century. Musical compositions have not only played a substantial role in the success of the films and shows they accompany but have transformed how we perceive space--and have helped inspire greater interest in "real" space exploration. This musical perception of "real" space is no longer restricted to movies and television, however. This book will also tell the fascinating story of how music has been performed and played in space since the early days of the "space race."