NASA’s new cozy video captivates viewers

NASA has released a cozy winter YouTube video with a cosmic twist, just in time for the festive period.

Crackling virtual fireplaces have become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly in the winter months and over the festive period.

There are even dedicated YouTube channels that host ten-hour-long videos to millions of people.

Now, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is capitalizing on the trend.

The video ‘NASA Rocket Engine Fireplace’ features what appears to be an animated stone fireplace with a cozy roaring rocket instead of a yuletide log-burning fire.

In just five days, NASA’s cozy “rocketplace” video has amassed over 330,000 views.

The rocket featured in the cozy fireplace video is a Space Launch System rocket that launched Artemis 1 on its first lunar mission in November 2022.

Artemis 1 was the Artemis program's first mission, which involved an uncrewed test run of the Orion spacecraft around the moon.

According to NASA, “This fireplace packs the heat of the SLS rocket’s four RS-25 engines and a pair of solid rocket boosters – just enough to get you to the Moon! (And get through the holidays with your in-laws.)”

The video is lengthy – a solid eight hours and twenty-eight seconds long. This means that you can enjoy the soft roars of NASA’s rocket all day long.

This virtual fireplace phenomenon isn’t a recent trend, as virtual fireplace fanatics have been around for years.

One channel, Balu – Relaxing Nature in 4K, started posting fireplace videos in 2016, with its most popular video gaining 30 million views.

Netflix even released a “series” called “Fireplace for Your Home,” which features a scorching Yuletide log fireplace burning away to holiday music alongside other fireplace variations.

According to Business Insider, Netflix’s cozy fireplace series quickly became more popular than top shows like Young Sheldon and The Crown.

Some people may group these videos into a category known as ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response), which is described as a tingling sensation that begins at the top of the head and radiates down your back.

Those who enjoy ASMR may feel a sense of calm wash over them after listening to or watching these videos. Many may just put on these videos in the background or use them to fall asleep.

However, this type of content is often mocked for having bizarre and weirdly specific titles. One video I found is called “Relaxing with the Winter Hour Long-Breeze by your Crackling Candle at 4:43 PM.”

This isn’t NASA’s debut into the streaming world, as the space administration has also created the on-demand streaming service NASA+, which shows educational videos and other NASA-based content.