A jar of Nutella became an unexpected viral sensation this week after it was spotted floating in zero gravity aboard NASA’s Artemis II spacecraft during a live mission broadcast.
The sweet hazelnut spread drifted across the Orion capsule’s kitchen area on April 6–7, 2026, as the crew conducted systems checks. The moment, captured on NASA’s livestream, quickly spread across social media and was viewed millions of times within hours.
The floating Nutella jar appeared during a routine interior tour of the Orion spacecraft, which is carrying four astronauts on the first crewed Artemis flight since the Apollo era. NASA’s livestream showed the jar slowly tumbling label-forward in microgravity.
Honored to have traveled further than any spread in history 🚀 Taking spreading smiles to new heights ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vDUJMi1qbS
— Nutella (@NutellaUSA) April 6, 2026
Internet users immediately dubbed the scene “the greatest free advertising moment in history,” according to Fox News.
The clip was widely shared on platforms including TikTok, X, and Instagram, with many calling it the most effective unplanned product placement in recent memory.
Houston, we have Nutella in space 🚀🌌! Tell us the one thing you'd bring into the cosmos for a chance to have your name written in the stars (or on a custom Nutella jar)✨ pic.twitter.com/A3pomiQVwx
— Nutella (@NutellaUSA) April 7, 2026
Nutella’s parent company, Ferrero, has not commented publicly on the incident, but the brand has seen a surge in online mentions since the footage aired.
The Artemis II mission is the first crewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket, paving the way for a future lunar landing.
The viral moment has highlighted how everyday items behave in space and provided an organic boost for the popular spread.
