SpaceX Inspiration4 Martin ukulele

[badhabits]

Haven’t seen this mentioned here… a Martin ukulele is going up with next week’s launch, and will be sold as a fundraiser. Maybe they make replicas down the road like the konter. A search will bring up plenty of stories, here's one:

Martin ukulele set for space in first-ever all-civilian astronaut SpaceX expedition

The martian Martin will accompany astronaut Chris Sembroski during the three-day trip, and will be auctioned off upon its return to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

www.guitarworld.com

 

[badhabits]

Given all the new threads, apparently there is now interest...or another story came out. Gives new meaning to lift off... aside from the headstock sticker!

 

[badhabits]

Here's a new story with video and playing.

SpaceX Inspiration4 mission: Crew appear in live video featuring weightless flips and ukulele performance

The four-member team hosted a show-and-tell session as they sped over Europe at about 17,500mph over Europe. On Friday, the spacecraft completed two rocket "burns" to reduce altitude and line up the capsule's trajectory with the landing site.

news.sky.com

 

[counsel1]

WOW-- I don't mean to appear harsh, but--what a wasted opportunity-- Traveling into space with a custom one-off Martin to be auctioned for charity with a worldwide audience- maybe he could have at least learned/played/rehearsed a recognizable, relevant tune rather than poorly strumming a couple random chords!

 

[UkerDanno]

Here's the video without the ads...

 

[rainbow21]

WOW-- I don't mean to appear harsh, but--what a wasted opportunity-- Traveling into space with a custom one-off Martin to be auctioned for charity with a worldwide audience- maybe he could have at least learned/played/rehearsed a recognizable, relevant tune rather than poorly strumming a couple random chords!

I suspect he had other priorities than learning to play better. Many of us can attest that a year or two more of playing would not have looked or sounded better or be ready for prime time. But the mission was accomplished as the playing skills will not affect the final amount bid for the item.

 

[badhabits]

He didn't use a strap! Wonder if that uke has button(s)?

 

[rainbow21]

He didn't use a strap! Wonder if that uke has button(s)?

Straps are not very effective in zero G!

 

[counsel1]

I suspect he had other priorities than learning to play better. Many of us can attest that a year or two more of playing would not have looked or sounded better or be ready for prime time. But the mission was accomplished as the playing skills will not affect the final amount bid for the item.

Seriously-- how difficult would it have been to learn a quick arrangement of Bowie's Space Oddity? He could have been an instant celebrity instead of propagating the notion that the uke is just an annoying toy--
Just one man's opinion--

 

[PeteyHoudini]

I am looking at the St-Jude auction site but I don't see the ukulele. Any ideas?
https://www.stjude.org/get-involved/other-ways/inspiration4.html

 

[TaoCat]

WOW-- I don't mean to appear harsh, but--what a wasted opportunity-- Traveling into space with a custom one-off Martin to be auctioned for charity with a worldwide audience- maybe he could have at least learned/played/rehearsed a recognizable, relevant tune rather than poorly strumming a couple random chords!

Maybe it was stage fright. I've seen people forget arrangements and fumble when theran audience or camera.

 

[don_b]

If he were wearing a strap he would have played beautifully

 

[PeteyHoudini]

After watching that space video, the actual chords sounding are: B, E, B, F#, B = C, F, C, G, C

Could have stepped up the game, methinks.

I think the uke is tuned a semi-tone lower. Does space do that??? Some of his fingering looks weird too,

 

[kkimura]

So what works better in a zero g environment, high g or low G? Or maybe slack key.

 

[PeteyHoudini]

So what works better in a zero g environment, high g or low G? Or maybe slack key.

Sounds like who created god? haha

 

[Yukio]

Stephen Colbert skewered me, you, and everyone here at UU with one thrust. I think every one of us would be THAT PERSON who brings out the ukulele at the party. Or into space.
LOL starting somewhere around the eight minute mark....

 

[badhabits]

So what works better in a zero g environment, high g or low G? Or maybe slack key.

and does zero gravity affect the sound?

 

[PeteyHoudini]

Stephen Colbert skewered me, you, and everyone here at UU with one thrust. I think every one of us would be THAT PERSON who brings out the ukulele at the party. Or into space.
LOL starting somewhere around the eight minute mark....

Yikes!

 

[kkimura]

and does zero gravity affect the sound?

Probably not because ukuleles are already so light-hearted they are essentially zero gravity instruments.

 

[PeteyHoudini]

It's funny that we always says zero-gravity but gravity does not go away. This is just weightlessness. There is still gravity. Gravity is everywhere except for many black holes. No idea.