"Chiptune" composer to lead Astral Music Project, become first hispanic astronaut

(CNN) -- When the shuttle returns to space this week, the hearts of music lovers everywhere will be along for the ride.

That's because composer Rodger Ruzanka also known as Ipaghost to those in the music communtiy, will be on board. NASA announced earlier today that Ruzanka will be the first astronaut to participate in the Astral Music Project, an initiative to broaden the study of music in space.

Charles Bronson, lead space station flight director for the flight and former actor best known for that "tough guy" image, said that he looked forward to working closely with Ruzanka both musically and scientifically.

"Ipa is both very adept at music as well as his training," Bronson told reporters after the announcement from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "Not only was he able to calculate reentry trajectories at record speeds, but he would use the very same variables to create impressively innovative arpeggios and music structures. We are very excited what he will be able to accomplish on this flight, and look forward to the impact it will have on both the science and music community"

Ruzanka, known as Ipaghost to the music community is excited about the announcement.

"I've been making music for over 15 years now" Ruzanka said in an interview. "I never would have guessed that one day I would making music in space! I guess sometimes you just have to work as hard as you can dream." Ruzanka said while eating the traditional inaugural rocket ship shaped pancakes served after the announcement.

Ruzanka will not be riding alone however and has appointed fellow musician and colleague Joe Hahn as head of robotics operations, bass deployment and signal support systems. With previous experience in the aeronautics field from Air Hogs University of Illinois and tenure in the Ironchef of Music program, Hahn also known as Protman in the music community, was an obvious choice says Bronson.

“Really, it was his lack of distracting emotions that really sealed his position,” commented Bronson of Hahn's demeanor. “When you are stuck in a tight can for so long, you cannot let your emotions get the best of you. I learned that the hard way from working in a mine as a child.” Bronson added.

The flight will last for approximately 3 years and has been estimated to collect over 4 Exabytes of data which will be analyzed throughout the following decade. The space shuttle will be docked at the international space station within the next week. Ruzanka and his crew will also will deliver a replacement for a failed unit in a system that converts urine to delicious drinkable urine, NASA said.

CNN's Jason Hanna, Jim Spellman, John Couwels, Alan Silverleib and Patrick Oppmann contributed to this report.

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