At the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum in Kazakhstan, Expedition 58 crew members Anne McClain of NASA (left), Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos (center) and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency hold “launch keys” presented to them Nov. 29 during a tour of the facility. An actual key is used on launch day to begin the engine ignition sequence for the Soyuz booster rocket’s liftoff. They will launch Dec. 3 in the Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station
At the Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum in Kazakhstan, Expedition 58 crew members Anne McClain of NASA (left), Oleg Kononenko of Roscosmos (center) and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency hold “launch keys” presented to them Nov. 29 during a tour of the facility. An actual key is used on launch day to begin the engine ignition sequence for the Soyuz booster rocket’s liftoff. They will launch Dec. 3 in the Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-and-a-half month mission on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov.

According to the Canadian Space Agency, David Saint-Jacques and his crewmates will enter the Soyuz two and half hours before launch and after the pre-launch checks are completed they will have about 40 minutes to themselves. So, what does an astronaut do when strapped into their seat in a rocket with time on their hands? Listen to music of course.

The list was compiled by music journalist Nicolas Tittley, a friend of Saint-Jacques.

Below is David Saint-Jacques’ “Before space” playlist:

  • Sleep/Swim, múm
  • Green Grass of Tunnel, múm
  • Quarrel, Moses Sumney
  • Music for 18 Musicians (Modular Version): Pulses, Steve Reich (Ensemble Signal)
  • On the Ground, Richard Reed Parry
  • Subterraneans (2017 Remastered Version), David Bowie
  • Suspirium, Thom Yorke
  • Rêver mieux, Daniel Bélanger
  • Sunday Morning (Stereo Version), The Velvet Underground & Nico
  • Nuit debout, Camille
  • Distant Sky (feat. Else Torp), Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
  • Le départ, Alexandra Stréliski
  • The Great Escape, Patrick Watson
  • Ikajunga, Elisapie
  • Sail to the Moon, Radiohead
  • Flight from the City, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Yuki Numata Resnick, Ben Russell, Clarice Jensen & Tarn Travers
  • Blue Moon, Beck
  • Faites monter, Alain Bashung
  • Fade into You, Mazzy Star
  • Higgs Boson Blues, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
  • Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois, Sufjan Stevens
  • Looking for Astronauts, The National
  • New Star in the Sky, Air
  • We’re Going Home, Clint Mansell
  • Décollage, Air
  • The Stars Our Destination, Stereolab
  • Major Tom (Coming Home), Peter Schilling
  • A Model of the Universe, Jóhann Jóhannsson

Marc Boucher is an entrepreneur, writer, editor, podcaster and publisher. He is the founder of SpaceQ Media. Marc has 30+ years working in various roles in media, space sector not-for-profits, and internet content development.

Marc started his first Internet creator content business in 1992 and hasn't looked back. When not working Marc loves to explore Canada, the world and document nature through his photography.

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