A viral image of Sunita William’s Ganesh moorti aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has reignited curiosity — just like when Buzz Aldrin quietly took communion on the Moon. Despite their high-tech missions, astronauts carry personal tokens from Earth — from religious icons and pop culture relics to contraband sandwiches.
Here’s a look at the strangest, coolest, and most heartwarming objects that have hitched a ride beyond Earth.
SPORTS ON THE MOON:
Before departing the Moon in 1971, Apollo 14 commander Alan Shephard took out a makeshift six-iron and launched two golf balls into the void. With no atmosphere and minimal gravity, he pulled off the longest golf shots in history.
MUSIC AMONG THE STARS:
In 2012, ISS Commander Chris Hadfield gave David Bowie’s Space Oddity an authenticity upgrade by recording a cover aboard the ISS. Space music dates back to 1965 when Gemini 6 astronauts Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford smuggled a harmonica and bells aboard to play Jingle Bells — the first musical performance in space.
FAITH IN ORBIT:
A small idol of Ganesh kept Sunita Williams company during her nine-month ISS stay, ensuring that divine blessings floated around in zero gravity. But she’s not the first astronaut to do so. In 1969, Buzz Aldrin took Holy Communion in the lunar module before stepping onto the moon. An elder at Webster Presbyterian Church, he received a special permission to b ring a chalice, wine, and a communion wafter. Recalling the moment, he later revealed that the low lunar gravity made the wine curl up the cup’s side.
THE SMUGGLED SANDWICH:
John Young’s infamous corned beef sandwich prank aboard Gemini III in 1965 remains legendary. Stashed in his spacesuit, the smuggled snack made its grand appearance two hours into the mission when Young casually offered a bite to commander Gus Grissom. The problem? Rye bread crumbles in microgravity. Obviously, NASA wasn’t amused.
WHY DO ASTRONAUTS LEAVE THINGS ON THE MOON?:
To lighten spacecraft for the return journey, astronauts often swap equipment for Moon rocks. Apollo 11 created a “toss zone” to shed a rolled-up flag tubes. Overtime, lunar missions have left around 4,00,000 pounds of discarded gear — proof that human exploration always leaves a mark.
THINGS LEFT BEHIND ON THE MOON BY ASTRONAUTS:
Human waste: Apollo astronauts have left altogether 96 bags of human waste on the moon.
A family photo: Charles Duke left his family photo on the lunar surface during the Apollo 16 mission.
Flags: Multiple flags from Apollo missions, now bleached to radiation.
Ashes: Gene Shoemaker’s ashes — the only human remains on the Moon.
Tiny art gallery: The Moon Museum – a small ceramic wafer with artworks by sic artists was supposedly attached to the Apollo 12 lunar module, Intrepid.
Feather and hammer: Astronaut David Scott used these in an experiment to prove Galileo’s on gravity. The feather belonged to the Air Force Academy’s mascot falcon, Bagin.
Fallen astronaut sculpture:
This small aluminum sculpture of an astronaut Paul Van Hodydonck to honor astronauts who died in service was placed on the moon during the Apollo 15 mission.
The Bible: It was left by astronaut David Scott on the dashboard of a Moon buggy during the Apollo 15 mission.
Other mementos: Apollo 1 mission patch left by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin and a golden olive branch left by Alan Bean in memory of astronaut Clifton C Williams.
