A seemingly ordinary object unexpectedly grabbed global attention during a livestream of the Artemis II mission—a jar of Nutella floating freely inside the Orion spacecraft. The clip surfaced just moments before the crew reached a major milestone, venturing farther from Earth than any humans have since the historic Apollo 13 mission.
What made the moment even more intriguing was its timing. The four astronauts—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—were in the middle of a historic journey around the Moon when the new-viral footage emerged. Amid such a monumental mission, the sight of a floating jar of chocolate spread struck viewers as both amusing and oddly relatable.
Social media quickly latched onto the clip, with users flooding platforms with humorous takes. Some joked that Nutella had managed to “travel farther than most humans,” while others playfully suggested it was an unexpected marketing win for Ferrero, the brand behind the spread. A few even drew comparisons to other instances where everyday consumer products have made surprising appearances during space missions.
Nutella Joins The Conversation
Leaning into the viral moment, Nutella’s official account embraced the attention with it. Posting on X, the brand quipped that it felt “honored to have traveled further than any spread in history,” adding that it was “taking spreading smiles to new heights.” The playful response only fueled the online buzz, turning the floating jar into a lighthearted highlight of an otherwise serious mission.
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
NASA Shuts Down Product Placement Rumours
As speculation grew, some began to question whether the appearance of Nutella was part of a deliberate brand placement strategy. However, NASA quickly addressed these claims, making it clear that no such collaboration existed.
According to reports, the jar was simply part of the astronauts’ onboard food supplies. The Artemis II crew had packed a diverse selection of meals for their journey, including barbecue beef brisket, macaroni and cheese, broccoli au gratin, tortillas, hot sauce, coffee, and snacks—among which Nutella was likely included as a treat.
NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens clarified the situation, stating that the agency “does not select crew meals or food in association with brand partnerships.” She emphasized that the sighting of Nutella inside the spacecraft “was not a product placement,” putting to rest any theories of intentional advertising.
A Menu That’s Sparking Curiosity
Even though NASA dismissed the product placement rumors, curiosity around the astronauts’ food choices has only grown. The Artemis II menu reportedly features an impressive 189 items, including essentials like tortillas and coffee, as well as desserts such as cake and cookies. With such a wide-ranging selection, the addition of Nutella has only added a touch of familiarity—and a bit of viral charm—to the crew’s culinary experience in space.
