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 space record for a Moon flyby.
But beyond the record distance, the mission is full of surprises that you may not expect.
Five different hot sauces fly around the Moon
The Orion spacecraft carries 189 unique menu items along with five different types of hot sauce. Plus, there are maple syrups, chocolate spreads, grilled beef brisket, spicy green beans, and even peach mango smoothies. Items are specifically added to the menu and can be kept fresh without refrigeration throughout the 10-day trip.
Astronauts use a heavy metal playlist as an alarm
NASA has been using wake-up calls for its astronauts for decades. These include the songs “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, Mandisa woke them up with “Good morning.”
Crater named after Major Reid Wiseman’s late wife
The crew proposed the name “Carroll” for a bright, cool crater on the moon to remember Commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife. He died of cancer in 2020. Another crater was named “Integrity” in honor of the Orion spacecraft.
A legend of Apollo sent a message before he died
The late Apollo astronaut Jim Lovell, who was a crew member on Apollo 8 and the ill-fated Apollo 13, recorded a special message for the crew. At the age of 97, before he died, 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 initially trained in a simple NASA sandbox. Through the reflection of lights on the sand at various angles, they learn to study the textures and colors of the lunar surface.
The astronauts were also trained in the Icelandic highlands, which also resemble the Moon.
Artemis II will conclude on Friday with a splashdown in San Diego.
