Lifestyle

What Favorite Texas Treat Was Sent to the International Space Station?

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Earlier this week, the SpaceX capsule left Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, heading to the International Space Station. Aside from the 6,400 pounds of experiments, (including 20 mice) there was something else terribly important in this shipment that will make the crew of six astronauts very happy: Blue Bell Ice Cream.

Never Waste Freezer Space!

Blue Bell

Photo: Flickr/KayLynn Yarbrough

This capsule, called “The Dragon,” was filled with experiments for the astronauts to work on during their stay at the International Space Station. Once all of the experiments were loaded, there was extra freezer space available. As any good Texan knows, there’s never an excuse to waste perfectly good freezer space, so the extra space was packed full of Blue Bell Ice Cream. NASA sent the astronauts packages of the 3-ounce cups in the following flavors: Homemade Vanilla (of course), Chocolate, and Birthday Cake.

That’s A Long Time Without Blue Bell!

Astronauts Space Station

Photo: Flickr/NASA Johnson

It’s fair to say that Astronaut Peggy Whitson (Ph.D.) will be among the most excited to see the rocket-turned-ice-cream-truck when it arrives. Whitson is in the middle of her third, long-duration mission to the International Space Station. There are currently two Cosmonauts also on the International Space Station (No word yet on whether they enjoy our favorite ice cream).

Enjoyed All Over The Universe

rocket

Photo: Flickr/NASA Kennedy

This is not the first time that Blue Bell has made its way to space – astronauts have enjoyed the ice cream in space on several occasions. Other notable Blue Bell fans are George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, who both had Blue Bell shipped to them during their time in the White House. The family also has the ice cream shipped to their home in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Blue Bell was founded in 1907 in Brenham, Texas, as the Brenham Creamery Co., a butter producer. It added ice cream in 1911. Blue Bell products, such as ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and other treats are now sold in 23 states and enjoyed all over the solar system.