In the history of space-age March 23, 1965, remains special. During NASA’s Gemini III mission, an astronaut John W. Young smuggled a corned beef sandwich into space. Such snacks are unapproved for flight by NASA due to concerns about the risks posed in a zero-gravity environment. Around two hours into their long flight, John offered a sandwich to the commander of the mission, Virgil “Gus” Grissom. Grissom took the bread and Grissom and put the unfinished sandwich away in his own spacesuit pocket. He did that so the breadcrumbs breaking off from the sandwich would not get in the eye of the astronaut or float behind an instrument panel.
This incident is remembered as one of the quirkiest moments in space history. However, this was not the only time that something was secretively taken into space. Let’s find out more about this incident and more things that were smuggled into space.
The Corned Beef Smuggling Incident
Gemini III was the first US space flight to include two astronauts. John W. Young was a Navy test pilot and an aeronautical engineering grad from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Gus Grissom was a World War II and Korean War veteran, mechanical engineer, and a United States Air Force test pilot.
Grissom and Young had several experiments to conduct during their 4-hour journey. One of Young’s assignments was to test space food. As Gus Grissom described in 1965, the meals that they took along “came in plastic bags, and we had to insert a water gun into the bag and squirt liquid inside to reconstitute them.” Not very appealing of course.
What they could bring along as meals included a freeze-dried entree, vegetable, drink, and dessert, protected with a 4-ply, laminated film coating. Young took a dislike to the freeze-dried option. So he asked for help from his mischievous colleague, astronaut Walter Schirra, whom we will hear more about, later. Schirra procured a corned beef sandwich from Wolfie’s Restaurant & Sandwich Shop, a popular deli near Cape Canaveral. Young slipped the sandwich into his pocket just before the launch.
Mid-flight Feast When Smuggled a Sandwich to Space
The mission was proceeding as planned when Young offered the sandwich to his fellow astronaut, Gus Grissom, during the flight. As the one-minute transcript of the incident shows following conversation took place.
“What is it?” Grissom asked. “Corned beef sandwich,” Young replied. “Where did that come from?” Grissom asked. Answered Young: “I brought it with me. Let’s see how it tastes. Smells, doesn’t it?”
Grissom took a bite, and almost immediately, crumbs began floating around the cabin. In the zero-gravity environment of the spacecraft, the tiny crumbs became a potential hazard. NASA had carefully developed space food to avoid exactly this problem—every crumb or loose particle could float into sensitive equipment, causing malfunctions or even jeopardizing the mission. Grissom put the sandwich in his pocket for the duration of the flight.
“It was a thoughtless act, but the sandwich was good”
Gus Grissom (half-jokingly said)
NASA’s Response
NASA officials were not amused by the stunt. Christopher Kraft, the flight director, was particularly alarmed by the potential dangers the floating crumbs posed to the spacecraft’s delicate instruments.
“It was funny, but it was also dangerous. We didn’t know what might happen with crumbs floating around the capsule”.
Christopher Kraft, NASA Flight Director
Although no significant damage occurred, the sandwich episode led to stricter regulations concerning what astronauts could bring into space.
NASA’s official records show that Young’s stunt was a violation of protocol, and he was given a stern warning. Kraft and others in mission control were particularly displeased that the incident could have created a safety risk. Young later reflected on the situation, acknowledging that it was a lighthearted prank but not one he should have carried out without considering the consequences.
However, the brief incident sparked a review by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations. In this review, one member of Congress called it “a $30 million sandwich”. Further, politicians cited safety concerns about crumbs interfering with spacecraft operations. Several senior NASA officials, including then-Administrator James Webb, testified at the proceedings.
Changes in Space Food Protocols Following Smuggled a Sandwich into Space
Before the Gemini III mission, NASA had already developed specialized food for astronauts that was designed for consumption in zero gravity. These meals were packaged to ensure that no loose particles could float away. The corned beef sandwich, with its rye bread, was the opposite of what NASA-approved space food should be. The crumbs were exactly the type of debris NASA engineers were trying to avoid.
This incident underscored the importance of careful planning and adherence to protocols, especially regarding the safety of astronauts and the functionality of spacecraft systems. After Gemini III, NASA further refined its procedures and packaging for space food, making sure that future space snacks would be crumb-free.
Other Notable Space Smuggling Incidents
Young’s sandwich incident wasn’t the only instance where astronauts and cosmonauts smuggled items into space. There have been several similar episodes where space travelers, seeking a sense of normalcy or engaging in lighthearted pranks, brought unauthorized items onboard.
Walter Schirra’s Scotch and Cigarettes (1965)
On December 15, 1965, during the Gemini VI-A mission, astronaut Walter Schirra secretly brought a small amount of Scotch whiskey and cigarettes into space. Known for his sense of humor, Schirra didn’t consume the items during the flight but brought them along to celebrate the mission’s success. This harmless gesture highlighted the human desire to commemorate achievements even in the most technical and controlled environments.
Edgar Mitchell’s ESP Experiment (1971)
Edgar Mitchell, an astronaut on Apollo 14, smuggled materials to conduct experiments on extrasensory perception (ESP). Mitchell was curious about whether thoughts could be transmitted between the Earth and the Moon. Although the results were inconclusive, the unauthorized experiment raised questions about the ethical boundaries of conducting personal research during space missions.
Soviet Cosmonauts’ Chocolate Incident (1978)
In 1978, Soviet cosmonauts aboard Soyuz 29 brought chocolates into space. During their mission, the chocolates scattered in the spacecraft, floating freely in zero gravity. It took the cosmonauts two hours to collect all the pieces. While this incident didn’t pose a serious threat, it was a clear reminder of how food can quickly become a nuisance in space without proper packaging.
Richard Garriott and James Doohan’s Ashes (2008)
In 2008, space tourist Richard Garriott smuggled a small portion of actor James Doohan’s ashes onto the International Space Station (ISS). Doohan, famous for playing Scotty in Star Trek, had long expressed a desire to go to space. Garriott concealed the ashes in laminated postcards and took them aboard. NASA never officially commented on the incident, but Garriott later revealed the story as a tribute to Doohan.
The Lasting Impact of Smuggling a Sandwich into Space
While Young’s corned beef sandwich prank remains a humorous footnote in space exploration history, it had lasting effects on how NASA managed missions. The incident reinforced the need for strict control over what could be taken into space and highlighted the unforeseen risks that even the smallest deviations from protocol could cause.
John Young went on to have a distinguished career at NASA, eventually commanding the Apollo 16 mission in 1972, during which he walked on the Moon. His corned beef sandwich stunt is often retold as a quirky but cautionary tale in the early days of human spaceflight.
This story of a smuggled sandwich reminds us that space, despite all its technological advancements and careful planning, remains a uniquely human endeavor. Even in the most extraordinary circumstances, astronauts are still people—prone to pranks, preferences, and the occasional craving for comfort food from Earth.
Conclusion
The story of John Young smuggling a corned beef sandwich into space is a lighthearted chapter in NASA’s history, but it also serves as a lesson in the importance of adherence to space safety protocols. While it didn’t result in any serious consequences, it highlighted the potential risks that come with even the smallest deviations from carefully planned missions. It’s a reminder that, while space exploration involves highly trained professionals, even astronauts can occasionally break the rules for a taste of home.
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