As the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Artemis II spacecraft travels deeper into space, four astronauts on board are making history.
The mission breaks the 56-year-old space record during a flyby of the Moon.
But beyond the record distance, the mission is full of surprises that we might not expect.
Five different hot sauces fly around the Moon
The Orion spacecraft carries 189 unique menu items as well as five different types of hot sauce. Plus, there are maple syrups, chocolate spreads, grilled brisket, spicy green beans, and even mango-peach smoothies. Items are specifically added to the menu and can remain fresh without refrigeration for the duration of the 10-day trip.
Astronauts use heavy metal playlist as alarm
NASA has been using wake-up calls for its astronauts for decades now. These include the tracks “Green Light” by John Legend, “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan and “Working Class Heroes” by CeeLo Green. On the day of the moon flyby, they were awakened by “Good Morning” by Mandisa.
They named a crater in honor of Commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife.
The crew proposed the name “Carroll” for a bright, cool crater on the moon in memory of Commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife. She died of cancer in 2020. Another crater was named “Integrity” in homage to the Orion spacecraft.
A legend of Apollo sent a message before he died
The late Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell, who was a member of the crew of Apollo 8 and the ill-fated Apollo 13, recorded a special message for the crew. At the age of 97, before his death, he said: “Welcome to my old neighborhood. Don’t forget to enjoy the view.”
A sandbox prepared them for the Moon
For training purposes, the crew was first trained in a simple NASA sandbox. By reflecting lights off the sand at different angles, they learn to study the textures and colors of the lunar surface.
Astronauts were also trained in the Icelandic highlands, which also resemble the Moon.
Artemis II is expected to conclude on Friday with a water landing off the coast of San Diego.
