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Artemis II Mission Orbits Far Side of Moon with Nutella Product Placement
NASA's Artemis II mission has reached the far side of the moon, marking a key milestone in lunar exploration. The crew is conducting scientific observations during the flyby. Nutella achieved incidental product placement on the spacecraft.
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NASA's Artemis II mission successfully orbited the far side of the moon on this date, with four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft. The mission, part of the Artemis program, aims to test systems for future lunar landings. The flyby provides an opportunity for the crew to observe geological features not visible from Earth.
The spacecraft launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on November 16, 2024. Artemis II is the first crewed mission in the program since Apollo 17 in 1972. The four-person crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
During the far side orbit, the crew is examining lunar terrain, including craters and potential resource sites.
Graphics editor Marco Hernandez at The New York Times detailed the astronauts' focus on mapping and imaging the region. The far side, also known as the lunar far side, features a rugged landscape with fewer maria compared to the near side. The mission duration is planned for 10 days, returning to Earth on December 5, 2024.
No landing is involved in this test flight. Data collected will inform future missions, including Artemis III scheduled for 2026.
Product Placement Fortune reported that Nutella, the chocolate-hazelnut spread produced by Ferrero, is present on the Orion spacecraft.
The item was included as part of crew provisions, providing free publicity for the brand. This marks the first known instance of a consumer food product reaching the moon's far side.
“— Fortune, current date The inclusion was not a sponsored placement but a standard supply item. Ferrero has not commented on the media attention. The event highlights how commercial products can gain visibility through space missions.”
