Barton & Sweeney: The Day Our Music Was Played in Space

How a song from two Oklahoma musicians became part of a NASA Space Shuttle mission

When most musicians dream of reaching new audiences, they don’t usually imagine orbiting Earth at 17,500 mph.But that’s exactly what happened when Barton & Sweeney’s song “Take a Little Less” was played to astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour during NASA’s STS-99 mission.

It’s one of the rare honors in the music world: becoming part of the NASA astronaut wake-up playlist, a long-standing tradition dating back decades.

And yes — Barton & Sweeney officially became space-certified.

STS-99: The Mission Our Music Rode Into Orbit

NASA’s STS-99 Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) launched from Kennedy Space Center on February 11, 2000.Its goal? To map nearly the entire Earth in 3D — a massive scientific breakthrough for topography, climate research, and engineering.

But amid all that cutting-edge technology, NASA included something beautifully human: a daily wake-up song for the astronauts.

On Flight Day 7, the Blue Team woke up to “Take a Little Less” by Barton & Sweeney — a moment quietly archived in NASA history.

Music in Space: A NASA Tradition

Astronaut wake-up songs began during the Gemini program and became a charming ritual by the Apollo era.Crews often received:

• Songs chosen by their families

• Tracks requested by mission control

• Meaningful favorites picked by the astronauts themselves

These songs weren’t just background noise — they were emotional anchors.A reminder of home.A spark of joy.A touch of humanity while orbiting hundreds of miles above Earth.

For Barton & Sweeney, being selected placed their music in a rare category:Earth-grown songs that have played beyond the atmosphere.

Why “Take a Little Less” Was a Perfect Fit

“Take a Little Less” carries the warmth, sincerity, and storytelling that Barton & Sweeney are known for. It’s grounded. Human. Real.Exactly the type of song an astronaut might want to hear while floating in microgravity, preparing for another day mapping the planet below.

Its presence on STS-99 highlights something special:NASA’s playlist wasn’t about big labels or trending charts — it was about songs that meant something personal.

A Cosmic Milestone for Independent Music

Most artists measure success in album sales, sold-out shows, or radio play.But very few can say:

“Our music has been played in outer space.”

For Barton & Sweeney, this moment represents:

• A unique place in NASA’s cultural history

• A major milestone for independent musicians

• Proof that great songs travel far — farther than anyone ever expects

It’s a story worth sharing, not just because it’s cool (and it is extremely cool), but because it shows how deeply music connects humans, no matter where we are.

Space Travel, Human Stories, and Music That Follows Us Everywhere

STS-99 was a mission dedicated to mapping Earth — its mountains, valleys, rivers, and ridges.But inside the Shuttle, astronauts were listening to songs that mapped something else:human stories, emotions, and memories.

For one morning in orbit, Barton & Sweeney became part of that experience.

It’s a powerful reminder:Even in space, music is home.

A Final Note

The fact that Barton & Sweeney’s music floated above Earth — circling the globe every 90 minutes — is a rare and beautiful achievement.

And now it’s official:Barton & Sweeney aren’t just local musicians.They’re part of space history.