NASA played Smith's recording of "God Bless America" as the final astronaut wake-up call, ending the 30-year Space Shuttle program.
On July 21, 2011, NASA played Kate Smith's iconic recording of "God Bless America" as the final wake-up call for the crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis during mission STS-135, which marked the historic conclusion of the 30-year Space Shuttle program.
This selection was profoundly symbolic, chosen to honor both the astronauts' achievements and the broader American spirit of exploration and resilience that had characterized the Space Shuttle era. NASA's tradition of playing wake-up songs for astronauts, often chosen for personal or symbolic significance, made this final selection especially poignant given the historic nature of the mission's conclusion.
The choice of Smith's recording, more than 70 years after she first popularized the song and 25 years after her death, demonstrated the extraordinary and enduring resonance of her artistic legacy within American culture. It illustrated how her voice had become permanently woven into the fabric of American national identity, transcending the specific era of her active career to remain relevant during moments of profound national significance.
This event represented one of the most striking examples of Smith's lasting cultural impact, connecting her Depression-era and wartime performances to a 21st-century milestone in American space exploration, and reaffirming "God Bless America" as an unofficial anthem for moments of national pride and reflection.