Check out Artemis II’s Nutella bottle that attracts attention in a zero-gravity environment
A jar of Nutella drifts into the constellation of Orion as NASA Artemis 2 astronauts reach the deepest point in human flight history near the moon.
The Artemis II crew’s appreciation for Nutella is literally out of this world.
During a broadcast of the historic space mission on April 6, a jar of chocolate hazelnut spread unexpectedly drifted inside the Orion spacecraft.
The moment then went viral, with both Nutella and NASA involved in the accidental promotion.
“We are honored to have traveled further than any other spread in history, spreading smiles to new heights,” Nutella USA said in a post on X.
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center responded: “The Artemis crew is enjoying sweet treats while taking great photos of the moon!”
This incredible scene occurred on the same day that the crew of Artemis II conducted a lunar flight, traveling near the far side of the moon in a record-breaking moment. Astronauts Reed Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover of NASA, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency are currently on their way home to complete their 10-day mission.
Watch Nutella float through space on Artemis II
During a live broadcast of the Artemis II mission on April 6, a bottle of Nutella drifted inside the Orion spacecraft.
On social media, people quickly dubbed the moment “the biggest free advertisement of all time.”
“Nutella just got the ultimate space ad from the crew of Artemis 2. Haha. Just minutes away from breaking the record for furthest humans from Earth,” one person wrote on X.
“I never imagined that the daily events of my childhood would be floating in a spaceship around the moon,” said another.
Nutella replied: “Don’t worry we’re just floating around!”
As for whether this spot was planned in any way, Nutella seems to have dispelled speculation.
“If the epidemic is already gone, there is no need for a budget!” the company wrote about X.
Watch the moment in the video at the top of this story.
What will the Artemis II crew eat in space?
In addition to Nutella, the Artemis II crew will be nourished with a variety of ready-to-eat, hydrating and other foods, according to NASA.
“Food selections are developed in collaboration with space food experts and crew members to balance caloric needs, hydration, and nutritional intake while meeting individual crew preferences,” NASA said on its website, adding that all Orion food is shelf-stable and easy to prepare.
The crew of Artemis II will have more than 180 unique menu items, the station said, but some of the most common foods include tortillas, vegetable quiche and breakfast sausage.
Melina Khan is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Contact her at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
