SouthernWorldwide.com – The Artemis II crew, upon their return to Earth, revealed that their very first snack after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean was a bag of peanut M&Ms. Commander Reid Wiseman shared this delightful detail during a “CBS Mornings” town hall event titled “Artemis II: A Celebration of Heroes.”
Wiseman, along with fellow astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen, engaged with students, answering questions about their groundbreaking mission. The revelation of the post-splashdown snack brought laughter from both the crew and the young audience.
“When we landed, we splashed down into the Pacific Ocean, waiting for the rescue forces to come open the hatch, and Christina, out of her spacesuit pocket, goes, ‘I got some peanut M&Ms, anybody want some?'” Wiseman recounted. He added, “And so we’re leaning against the side of the spacecraft, just come back from the moon, eating peanut M&Ms; we were happy.”
This anecdote highlights a lighter side of space travel, contrasting with the often-perceived blandness of astronaut food. While space food is designed to be crumb-free to prevent issues within the spacecraft, candy items like M&Ms are generally not problematic.
The topic of food had previously garnered attention during the mission itself. A jar of Nutella was famously seen floating inside the capsule shortly before the Artemis II astronauts set a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans from Earth, surpassing the Apollo 13 record from 1970.
The floating jar, observed behind Christina Koch in footage, led to speculation. NASA confirmed that it was not a staged product placement. However, the owner of Nutella, the Ferrero Group, embraced the moment with a playful statement on X (formerly Twitter).
“Honored to have traveled further than any spread in history 🚀 Taking spreading smiles to new heights,” the company posted, humorously adding, “We’ve traveled to a lot of breakfast tables. Never any quite like this.”
Despite the public’s focus on novelty items like floating Nutella, the Artemis II crew members themselves reported that the onboard food was quite enjoyable during their mission.
Wiseman shared that a particular highlight was a communication link-up with the International Space Station on Flight Day 7. The crew found this interaction particularly special because they were all consuming the same types of food.
When asked about their preferred meals during the flight, Wiseman and Glover enthusiastically mentioned several dishes. Their favorites included spicy green beans, broccoli au gratin, and fajitas, indicating a diverse and appealing menu for the astronauts.
The mission’s success and the crew’s experiences, including their post-splashdown snack and enjoyment of the mission’s cuisine, underscore the advancements in both space exploration and astronaut provisions. The return of the Artemis II crew marks a significant step in humanity’s journey back to the Moon, with these personal anecdotes offering a relatable glimpse into the lives of those pushing the boundaries of space travel.
Read more : Delta Ends Food and Drink Service on Short Flights
The full discussion, including further details about the mission and the astronauts’ experiences, can be found in the episode “Things That Matter: A Town Hall with the Artemis Astronauts.”
