A "mix-tape for aliens" created by Nasa and launched into space in 1977 is to be produced on vinyl and released to the general public for the first time.

The phonograph album, the “Voyager Golden Record”, features music by J.S. Bach and Chuck Berry as well as sounds from humpback whales and greetings in 55 languages.

Nasa launched two copies of the album into space in 1977 on its Voyager 1 and 2 spacecrafts in the hope that it would be picked up by extraterrestrials.

Until recently, the album was only accessible to donors of a Kickstarter campaign by Ozma Records, which raised nearly $1.4 million to issue a limited number of copies on vinyl.

On the back of its success, the record label has decided to release the album to the general public and will be producing a vinyl edition at the end of January 2018.

The original album is still floating in space and should be in perfect condition. It was made from copper and coated with gold to protect it from the extreme temperatures and radiation in the atmosphere.

Nasa said its scientists also electronically encoded 115 images on the record, such as photographs of a mother nursing her child, an astronaut floating in space and a violin with sheet music.