Since the early days of motion picture production, film scores have helped define our emotional and aesthetic perception of stories on screen--particularly with space movies and television. The music from The Day the Earth Stood Still, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica and others has 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 explores the music and the composers who have helped define the sound of space for over a century, transforming how we perceive space and even inspiring greater interest in space exploration. This book also details how music has been performed and played in space since the early days of the "space race."