From corned beef sandwiches to contraband cognac, astronauts have found creative ways to sneak unexpected items onto missions over the decades. Rules strictly govern what can fly to space, but that hasn’t stopped these interstellar rebels from indulging in small acts of smuggling.
The Tradition Begins
The first recorded case of astronautical smuggling dates back to the pioneering Gemini missions of the 1960s. During the early days of NASA’s manned space program, culinary options were limited to bland freeze-dried foods that left something to be desired. Looking to liven up the menu, Gemini 3 astronaut John Young smuggled a corned beef sandwich tucked into his spacesuit pocket prior to launch on March 23, 1965. Once in orbit, Young offered fellow crew member Gus Grissom the first corned beef sandwich in space—a small act of rebellion that didn’t sit well with Congress.
Young’s corned beef caper prompted a congressional investigation and calls from officials to halt unauthorized experiments. The offending sandwich was seen as a possible choking hazard and contamination risk. Though the furor soon blew over with no real consequences for Young, the corned beef sandwich incident put NASA on high alert over smuggling.
In the wake of warnings against further smuggling issued by NASA’s Deke Slayton, astronauts got more creative with their contraband. On the very next manned Gemini flight that December, Wally Schirra smuggled aboard a tiny harmonica. Keeping it secret until reentry, Schirra then blew a rendition of “Jingle Bells” on the harmonica as his capsule splashed down, becoming the first to play music in space.
Stashing Stowaways
During NASA’s Apollo lunar missions, the tradition of small-scale smuggling continued even as crews transported their biggest unauthorized payload to date—a small aluminum statue. Without official permission but with tacit awareness of superiors, Apollo 15 commander David Scott carried the small figurine to the lunar surface in 1971. Called Fallen Astronaut, the statue by Belgian artist Paul Van Hoeydonck was placed on the moon along with a plaque bearing the names of astronauts and cosmonauts who had perished for space exploration.
While NASA turned more of a blind eye to minor smuggling over time, Russian cosmonauts kept up more overt activities throughout the Soviet space program. Cosmonauts regularly transported cognac to Salyut space stations in the 1970s and 80s, hiding liquor in books, behind panels, and even inside spacesuits. The Russians’ affinity for space smuggling also involved missions to Mir station in the 90s.
Besides alcohol, cosmonauts also smuggled other small comfort items from home onto missions. One Salyut commander even famously quipped that cognac was essential for performing spacewalks. This robust history of smuggling aboard Russian missions persists even up to contemporary launches, albeit only involving small mementos today.
New Millennium Mischief
As the International Space Station era began, astronauts entered a period of improved cuisine and amenities. But the urge to sneak something special endured for new crews. American astronauts have continued finding ways to transport small unauthorized items aboard shuttle flights and onto the ISS.
Paying tribute to personal heroes is a popular theme among recent astronautical contraband. Astronaut Garrett Reisman tucked dirt from the pitcher’s mound at Yankee Stadium—and the jersey of his favorite baseball player—aboard a 2008 mission. Many crews have also secretly carried small American flags, team jerseys, family photos, and university pennants as mementos.
Building on the inaugural smuggled sandwich, various foods have also made their way aboard ISS missions. Astronauts occasionally have tucked away fresh fruit, candy bars, and even baked goods to surprise crew members on birthdays or holidays. Russian cosmonauts have admitted to packing cognac and some special Russian food.
Final Frontier of Smuggling
As NASA plans human exploration missions to the Moon and Mars in the coming decades, the tradition of smuggling small mementos and treats may well carry over to new extraterrestrial terrain. Wherever humans are found exploring the outer limits of space, their daring desire to sneak something special along for the ride is likely to go with them. Just as astronauts have found ways around stringent limits on personal items since the early days of spaceflight, future interplanetary rebels will undoubtedly discover creative ways to transport tiny stowaways on history’s next era of missions departing Earth.
