Even with a kitchen loaded with healthy food, some days it is just hard to resist the temptation of ordering a pizza. Now imagine, being an astronaut in space, surviving on packaged rations. Craving a pizza is only human, isn’t it? Believe it or not, they actually had one delivered.
Pizza delivered to ISS
In 2001, Pizza Hut delivered to the International Space Station. You can find the video on YouTube of Russian cosmonaut Yuri Usachov eating the pizza that was delivered to the International Space Station.
$1 million stunt
Of course, he filmed himself eating the pizza. After all, this was supposed to be a marketing spectacle for which Pizza Hut had partnered with Roscosmos (Russia’s space agency). The whole stunt reportedly cost Pizza Hut $1 million.
A far bigger deal
This was not the first time Pizza Hut had joined hands with Roscosmos. Their partnership began a year earlier in July 2000. Pizza Hut had its logo placed on the world’s largest proton rocket. But delivering a pizza to space was a far bigger deal.
Pizza adapted for space
The pizza had to be adapted for space. Its shelf life had to be increased, its packaging had to be reinforced to endure the rigours of the rocket ride, and every ingredient had to be tested for safety in space conditions.
Originally, the plan was to make a pepperoni pizza. But pepperoni could not withstand the 60-day testing process. Hence, the topping was changed to salami.
A six-inch pizza was made so that it could fit in the tiny oven in the International Space Station. Since taste buds tend to dull in space, extra seasoning and salt were added.
A giant leap
And with that, Pizza Hut became the first and to date only pizza company to deliver in outer space. One small pizza for man, one giant leap for the brand.
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