In a premiere, one of the Beatles songs will be beamed directly into deep space by NASA. On February 4, at 7 p.m. EST, The Beatles' "Across the Universe" will take its stairway to the stars, in a transmission over NASA's Deep Space Network.

Written by fellow Beatle John Lennon, “Across The Universe” was recorded 40 years ago, but it was released for the first time in December 1969 on a charity album, “No One's Gonna Change Our World”. A modified version was included on the album “Let It Be”.

Besides the song anniversary, NASA is also celebrating two moments from its own history: the launch 50 years ago this week of Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite, and the founding 45 years ago of the Deep Space Network, an international network of antennas that supports missions to explore the universe.

The song will travel the distance between the Earth and the North Star, Polaris, with at a speed of 186,000 miles per second.

"Amazing! Well done, NASA!" Paul McCartney said in a message to the space agency. "Send my love to the aliens. All the best, Paul."

Feb. 4 has been declared "Across The Universe Day" by Beatles fans to commemorate the anniversaries. As part of the celebration, the public around the world has been invited to participate in the event by simultaneously playing the song at the same time it is transmitted by NASA.

Many of the senior NASA scientists and engineers involved in the effort are among the group's biggest fans.

"I've been a Beatles fan for 45 years – as long as the Deep Space Network has been around," said Dr. Barry Geldzahler, the network's program executive at NASA Headquarters, Washington. "What a joy, especially considering that 'Across the Universe' is my personal favorite Beatles song."