Neil deGrasse Tyson says he likes the Space Force's new theme song that has attracted online ridicule: 'It sounds very 1950s'

• Neil deGrasse Tyson says he likes the Space Force's new song, "Semper Supra."
• The astrophysicist said it reminded him of songs from the 1950s that were played on TV.

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has weighed in on the US Space Force's new theme song.

During an appearance on CNN on Sunday, Tyson was asked for his thoughts on "Semper Supra," the military branch's official tune.

"That's the first I've heard it. It sounds very 1950s, you know. Kinda like what you'd sing when the channels went off the air at midnight," Tyson told CNN anchor Jim Acosta. "I kinda like it."

Tyson said that other branches of the military tend to have songs that one would want to "march to," adding that he thought the Space Force song needed to invoke the urge to "launch something."

"And I didn't feel launch-y with those lyrics, or with the rhythms, but maybe if you watch a rocket launch while you hear it, that will reset how we think about the mood we should attain as we listen," Tyson added.

The name of the theme song, "Semper Supra," is the service branch's motto, which is Latin for "always above."

The lyrics for the song go: "We're the mighty watchful eye / Guardians beyond the blue / The invisible front line / Warfighters brave and true. / Boldly reaching into space / there's no limit to our sky. / Standing guard both night and day / we're the Space Force from on high."

General John "Jay" Raymond, the branch's space operations chief, said the song was "something we can be proud of," according to Military.com.

Per the outlet, Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown Jr., the Air Force's chief of staff, said of the song: "I'm sure it will grow on us."

The tune, however, has not garnered many fans on Twitter.

"Oh dear," tweeted actor George Takei, re-posting an article titled: "The U.S. Space Force just released their official anthem — and it sounds like a parody song,"

"Please tell me this is a parody. I can just imagine the faces of the choir trying to sing this," wrote Twitter user Peter Maz.

The Twitter account for the Deadpool movie also took a shot at the song, stating that "The Force is wrong with this one" and posting a clip from the film with the song laid over.

"Let's hope the aliens aren't music critics," quipped New York Magazine on its Twitter page.

The Space Force was carved out as a separate military branch in 2020 by then-President Donald Trump. It is no stranger to ridicule, with its logo having been mocked for looking like a "Star Trek" rip-off.

Criticism of the branch has extended to its camouflage uniform, which some Twitter mocked for resembling the outfits from the sci-fi series "Battlestar Galactica."