15 Surprising Objects That Have Been to Space and Back
Although rockets, satellites, and scientific instruments are undoubtedly the primary draws, space travel is more than just those things. From sentimental mementos to marketing gimmicks that would make advertisers cry with delight, astronauts have carried a variety of rather surprising objects into orbit over the years. While some of these artifacts were used for scientific research, others were merely used to tell intriguing tales about humanity’s expansion beyond Earth.
These objects are in space for a variety of reasons, from very personal to completely absurd. This is a list of 15 unexpected items that have traveled the farthest and come back to share their stories.
Pizza
Pizza Hut made history in 2001 by delivering a pizza to the International Space Station – though it took a bit more effort than your typical 30-minute delivery promise. The company paid the Russian space agency to send a salami pizza up with a supply mission.
While the astronauts got to enjoy their extraterrestrial meal, Pizza Hut got bragging rights as the first restaurant to deliver food to space.
Lightsaber
A Luke Skywalker lightsaber prop from ‘Return of the Jedi’ traveled to the International Space Station in 2007 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Star Wars. The iconic weapon spent two weeks in orbit before returning to Earth for display at various events.
It was probably the closest thing to actual Jedi training that most astronauts will ever experience.
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Corned Beef Sandwich
Astronaut John Young smuggled a corned beef sandwich aboard Gemini 3 in 1965, causing quite a stir when crumbs started floating around the spacecraft. NASA wasn’t thrilled about unauthorized food items potentially damaging equipment or creating hazards.
The incident led to stricter rules about what astronauts could bring on missions – apparently even space heroes can’t resist a good deli sandwich.
Lego Figurines
Three custom Lego minifigures traveled to Jupiter aboard NASA’s Juno spacecraft in 2011, though they won’t be coming back from that particular journey. The figures represented the Roman gods Jupiter and Juno, plus astronomer Galileo Galilei.
It was a fun way to inspire kids about space exploration while honoring the mission’s mythological and scientific connections.
Human Ashes
The cremated remains of several notable people have been launched into space, including Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and astronaut Gordon Cooper. Some of these memorial flights orbit Earth briefly before returning, while others head into deep space.
It’s become a unique way for people to literally reach for the stars one final time.
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Buzz Lightyear Action Figure
A Buzz Lightyear toy spent 15 months aboard the International Space Station as part of an educational outreach program. The irony of sending a fictional space ranger to actual space wasn’t lost on anyone involved.
Kids around the world followed Buzz’s real space adventures, proving that sometimes the best educational tools come from toy stores.
Golf Equipment
Several astronauts have hit golf shots on the moon and in space, with Alan Shepard’s lunar golf swing during Apollo 14 being the most famous. Commander Mikhail Tyurin also hit golf shots from the International Space Station in 2006.
These cosmic golf games probably set records for both distance and style points that will never be broken.
Seeds and Plants
Thousands of seeds have traveled to space and back as part of various experiments to study how zero gravity affects plant growth. Many of these ‘space seeds’ were later planted on Earth to see if their cosmic journey had any lasting effects.
Some schools even received space-flown seeds to grow in their gardens, creating literal space gardens in classrooms worldwide.
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Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola developed a special space-friendly dispenser that flew on several Space Shuttle missions in the 1980s. The company wanted to see if astronauts could enjoy their favorite soft drink in zero gravity.
While the experiment worked technically, most astronauts preferred regular drinks – apparently even in space, nothing beats the classics.
Wedding Rings
Countless astronauts have carried their wedding rings into space, though one of the most touching stories involves astronaut Bill Anders, who carried his wife’s wedding ring to the moon during Apollo 8. These personal items serve as reminders of the human connections that keep space travelers grounded emotionally.
It’s proof that love really can transcend any distance, even 240,000 miles.
Money
Various currencies have traveled to space, including coins and paper money from different countries. The U.S. Mint has sent commemorative coins on shuttle missions, while other nations have done similar things with their currencies.
Some of these space-flown coins later became valuable collector’s items worth far more than their face value.
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Wine
French wine traveled to the International Space Station in 2019 as part of an experiment to study how aging processes work in microgravity. Twelve bottles of Bordeaux spent a year in orbit before returning to Earth for tasting.
The results showed subtle differences in taste and chemical composition, though whether space wine tastes better remains a matter of personal preference.
Flags
Flags from virtually every nation have made trips to space, often carried by astronauts representing their home countries. The most famous space flag is probably the American flag planted on the moon during Apollo missions.
Many of these flags later become treasured national artifacts, displayed in museums and government buildings as symbols of their countries’ contributions to space exploration.
Baseballs
Several baseballs have traveled to space, including one that was thrown out at a World Series game after returning from orbit. These cosmic baseballs sometimes get signed by astronauts and become prized collectibles.
It’s a uniquely American way of combining national pastimes with space exploration.
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Toy Cars
Hot Wheels cars have made multiple trips to space as part of educational programs and experiments. These tiny vehicles have orbited Earth and even traveled to the moon on some missions.
Kids love following the adventures of space-traveling toy cars, and it’s an easy way to get young people excited about science and exploration.
Beyond Earth’s Atmosphere
These unconventional space travelers serve as a reminder that human exploration has always involved more than merely making scientific discoveries; it has also involved bringing aspects of our humanity with us. These items, whether they are a marketing gimmick, a sentimental memento, or an actual experiment, symbolize our wish to stay connected to our roots while aiming high.
They demonstrate how we manage to carry the things that are most important to us despite the vast emptiness of space.
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