Have you ever wondered what the Moon tastes like? Well, to the four crew members of the Artemis II mission, it tastes like shrimp, green beans and…. lots of Nutella!
As the Orion capsule begins its journey back to Earth after making history in lunar orbit, details of daily life on board have captivated social networks. And let’s face it: nothing brings us together more than food, even in zero gravity.
Nutella, the best advertising from space
Honored to have traveled further than any spread in history 🚀 Taking spreading smiles to new heights ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vDUJMi1qbS
– Nutella (@NutellaUSA) April 6, 2026
One of the most viral moments of the mission occurred during a live broadcast, when a jar of Nutella “escaped” and began to float freely around the cabin, becoming Monday’s guest star.
Although NASA is very strict with the menus, it seems that the cocoa and hazelnut cream is the “guilty pleasure” essential to last 10 days away from home.
Mexican legacy in space: Long live tortillas!
The food aboard Orion must be safe in microgravity, minimize crumbs and remain stable throughout the mission. The Artemis II astronauts are already two-thirds of the way through their journey and are eating their way to the Moon.
📹NASAArtemis pic.twitter.com/kTDDls2d4QO
– REFORMA (@Reforma) April 5, 2026
If there is one food that reigns supreme in the astronauts’ diet, it is the tortilla.
And it’s not just for its taste, but for a fascinating engineering reason that we owe to Mexican astronaut Rodolfo Neri Vela.
Unlike traditional bread, tortillas do not release crumbs.
In space, a single floating crumb can be a deadly hazard if it gets in an eye, up a crewmember’s nose or, worse, interferes with delicate spacecraft electronics.
For this mission, the crew brought exactly 58 tortillas, which they use to wrap everything from barbecue brisket to macaroni and cheese.
It is literally the most expensive and technologically advanced taco in history.
Dehydrated shrimp and lots of sauce
How to eat shrimp cocktail in space? Artemis II crew shares a video of the type of food they eat.
Video: @ @TheGlobeNewt pic.twitter.com/TtmREtIvgl
– The Broken Chair (@lasillarota) April 5, 2026
Astronaut Christina Koch, already a veteran in these matters, showed before the cameras her favorite dish: shrimp cocktail.
But don’t expect a fancy cup; in space, everything comes in plastic bags or metal wrappings. Food must be dehydrated to save weight and space, and astronauts use a special water dispenser to “revive” their food before putting it in a briefcase-style warmer that, of course, also floats around.
To spice up life, Artemis II’s inventory includes:
- 5 types of hot sauce (because space food can sometimes be a little bland).
- 43 cups of coffee for long days of lunar observation.
- 189 different items, including cauliflower, nuts and fruit smoothies.
Lunch at the Artemis II mission
Brisket and cobbler and quiche, oh my!
Curious what astronauts eat on a 10-day trip around the Moon? Read about how we design and prepare meal plans for Artemis II: https://t.co/eVNGSQpM04 pic.twitter.com/SDRi5guFb3
– NASA (@NASA) March 31, 2026
None of this is improvised.
NASA works months in advance with nutrition experts to balance the calories and nutrients needed for the human body to withstand the radiation and lack of gravity.
But, above all, they listen to personal preferences.
At the end of the day, being 400,000 kilometers from Earth is tough, and a little chocolate or a spicy taco is what keeps morale up.
What about you? If you were sent to the Moon, what would be the one ingredient you couldn’t miss in your space suitcase?
Filed under: Food mission Artemis II
