Astronauts who are being sent into space for missions on the International Space Station are being given MP3 players featuring motivational tunes by the likes of Status Quo and The Beatles, as chosen by a teenager.

The youngster in question, 14-year-old Norwegian Therese Miljeteig, took part in a competition held over ten countries by the European Space Agency.

The agency called on entrants to send in playlists of ideal songs for a space mission to mark the launch of an Automated Transfer Vehicle (basically a supplies spacecraft) on March 9.

As well as the Quo and the Fab Four, there are some not-so-nice tracks from Celine Dion and R Kelly, but also some classics by John Lennon and Frank Sinatra.

Last July it was announced that Miljeteig’s had beaten thousands to win the competition. As part of the prize she will watch the craft take off from the Kourou base in French Guiana on Sunday.

The full winning selection is as follows:

• The Beatles - Here Comes the Sun
• Frank Sinatra - Come Fly with Me
• Elton John - Rocket Man
• Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes - Up Where We Belong
• John Lennon - Imagine
• Irene Cara - Flashdance… What a Feeling
• Dire Straits - Walk of Life
• Celine Dion - Fly
• Status Quo - Rockin' All Over the World
• R Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly

(by Scott Colothan)