The Five Weirdest Things Sent to Space

From pizza, to partial remains of a science-fiction legend, you won’t believe some of the things that have reached orbit.

Jeremy Kariuki

Monday, December 20, 2021 at 11:27 AM ET

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Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa (left) makes a delivery to the International Space Station. [Courtesy: Uber Eats]

Key Takeaways:

Space has been a destination for unusual food deliveries, including the first pizza delivered by Pizza Hut in 2001 and a recent Uber Eats delivery of Japanese fast food.
Pop culture memorabilia has also journeyed to orbit, such as Luke Skywalker's lightsaber prop and the secretly smuggled cremated remains of "Star Trek" actor James Doohan (Scotty).
One of the most peculiar items launched into space was an entire Tesla Roadster, sent by SpaceX with a "Starman" mannequin during the Falcon Heavy's maiden flight.

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In years past, astronauts have taken special mementos or souvenirs to space with them—things like plush dolls, action figures, and musical instruments. But what else has found its way into orbit? Here’s five of the weirdest things to leave Earth.

1. Fast Food Delivery from Uber Eats

Everyone gets highly specific cravings, no matter the altitude. One Japanese entrepreneur, Yusaku Maezawa, recently rode aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station, where he delivered “boiled mackerel in miso, beef bowl cooked in sweet sauce, simmered chicken with bamboo shoots, and braised pork.”