American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) Local 47 member wil.i.am is most famous for being the mastermind behind the multiplatinum record-selling hip-hop group the Black Eyed Peas. Now he's done something that no other recording artist has ever done—debuted a song from the surface of another planet.

His new single, "Reach for the Stars (Mars Edition)," was broadcast from the Mars Curiosity rover to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. The song was recorded with a 40-piece orchestra consisting of Local 47 musicians, two youth choirs and guest rapper Lil Jon. 

"This is about inspiring young people to lead a life without limits placed on their potential and to pursue collaboration between humanity and technology," will.i.am said. 

The rapper has a record of involvement with promoting science to young people, producing a back-to-school special "i.am FIRST - Science is Rock and Roll," funding science and math education for needy students through his i.am.angel Foundation and funding a program that will bring NASA content and space exploration themes into underserved classrooms.

"We realize that as cool as this is, there was a lot of work that needs to be done in terms of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) education here on Earth," said Justin Paschal, executive director of the foundation. 

Watch the video.

The complete lyrics to the song:

Why they say the sky is the limit
When I’ve seen the footprints on the moon
Why they say the sky is the limit
When I’ve seen the footprints on the moon
And I know the sky might be high
But baby it ain’t really that high
And I know that Mars might be far
But baby it ain’t really that far
Let’s reach for the stars
Reach for the stars
Let’s reach for the stars
Reach for the stars
Let’s reach for the stars
Reach for the stars
Let’s reach for the stars
(Let me see your hands up)

Oooo ooo ooo

(Let me see your hands up)
Can’t nobody hold us back
They can’t hold us down
They can’t keep us back
Tiers to the ground
Told your people that we don’t mess around
When we’re trying out
Please don’t turn this down
We will turn it up
Louder than it was before
Like the lion at the jungle, you can hear us roar
When I lie hear, it’s like a sonic blaster
Flying just like NASA, out of space master
Hands up, reach for the stars
Hands up, get ‘em up high
Hands up, if you really feel alive
Live it up, live it up
Why they say the sky is the limit
When I’ve seen the footprints on the moon
Why do they say the sky is the limit
When I’ve seen the footprints on the moon
And I know the sky might be high
But baby it ain’t really that high
And I know that Mars might be far
But baby it ain’t really that far
Let’s reach for the stars
Reach for the stars
Let’s reach for the stars
Reach for the stars
Let’s reach for the stars
Reach for the stars
Let’s reach for the stars
(Let me see your hands up)

Story originally reported by Linda A. Rapka in the October 2012 issue of Overture: The Official Publication of Professional Musicians, Local 47, Los Angeles, AFM, AFL-CIO, CLC.