A jar of Nutella was filmed floating through the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II livestream on April 6, 2026, producing a viral moment and a playful response from the brand. The chocolate spread appeared among 189 menu items selected to meet crew preferences as well as strict nutritional, safety and operational requirements for the ten-day mission. All foods had to be shelf-stable and easy to prepare in microgravity, with notable items including 58 tortillas, vegetable quiche and barbecued brisket. Crew members said shared meals boost morale and emphasize the human side of deep-space travel.
Nutella Floats Through Orion During Artemis II Livestream, Sparks Viral Buzz
The Artemis II menuCredit: NASA
A jar of Nutella captured viewers' attention when it was filmed drifting through the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II livestream on April 6, 2026. The lighthearted moment — occurring just minutes before the crew reached the farthest distance humans have ever traveled into deep space — quickly went viral and drew reactions from fans and the brand itself.
The Viral Clip
During the live feed, a jar of the chocolate-hazelnut spread was seen floating past the crew in microgravity. Viewers shared the clip widely, with comments ranging from amusement to praise: one social media user called it the "Best Nutella commercial ever 😂." Nutella reposted the footage on X, writing, "Nutella is out of this world," and added, "Honored to have traveled further than any spread in history 🚀 Taking spreading smiles to new heights ♥️."
Menu Choices And Mission Constraints
NASA confirmed that a "chocolate spread" appeared on the Artemis II menu — one of 189 distinct items approved for the mission. Although the menu did not explicitly name Nutella, the viral footage suggested it matched the crew's personal preference. Victoria Segovia, a NASA public affairs specialist, told PEOPLE that crew preferences play an important role in menu planning because familiar foods support morale and menu acceptability, but every item must also meet strict nutritional, food-safety and operational requirements.
All meals for the ten-day mission had to be shelf-stable and simple to prepare in microgravity, as Artemis II has no resupply or refrigeration options. The approved menu ranged from vegetable quiche and barbecued beef brisket to mango salad. Sweet options included cobbler, pudding and candy-coated almonds; other spreads on board included peanut butter, strawberry jam, honey and almond butter.
Practical Choices For Microgravity
One notable provisioning detail: the crew carried 58 tortillas. "Tortillas have long been a practical staple in spaceflight because they are versatile, easy to eat in microgravity, and create far fewer crumbs than bread," Segovia said. Each astronaut is allotted two flavored beverages per day — one of which can be coffee — plus three scheduled meals daily, not counting launch and re-entry days.
Crew Reflections
Artemis II crew members emphasized the value of shared meals. Astronaut Jeremy Hansen said in a NASA Johnson video that "eating together really resonates with me" and described it as a fundamentally human experience. Fellow crew member Christina Koch, who reportedly attempted to stow the jar before it floated away, likened the group meals to "a camping trip," adding they foster togetherness and a sense of normalcy during an extraordinary voyage.
The drifting jar offered a small, relatable snapshot of daily life in microgravity while highlighting the careful planning that goes into provisioning a deep-space mission. Even amid historic milestones, moments like this remind observers of the human side of space travel.
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