Jack doesn't remember having M&M's in space.
The third space shuttle mission was commanded by Lousma 40 years ago. The Columbia was put through its paces by Lousma and Gordon to continue to test and prove the vehicle.
A number of records were set. It was the first space shuttle to have an unbleached external fuel tank. Science experiments were carried out on the mid-deck of the crew cabin. It was the first and only space shuttle to land in New Mexico, avoiding flooding at the primary landing site in California, and opting not to attempt a different type of historic landing in Florida.
The brand-new, unused, 15,000-foot runway at Kennedy Space Center was offered to us. I declined as I did not think we were ready for that yet, but we suggested the lakebed runway at the White Sands Missile Range, where we had done most of our approach and landing practice.
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There are pictures of NASA's space shuttle program.
They were the first astronauts to take candy into space. The first to launch with sugar confections were the crews from the previous years. They were the first astronauts to fly M&M's, the colorful candy-coated chocolates, which NASA labeled them, trying to avoid the appearance of endorsement.
Lousma doesn't remember doing that. Fullerton died at the age of 76.
I don't recall any M&M's candies being on the mission and can't vouch for their presence either.
NASA's records are clear on the subject, but as it turns out, there are other people who forget about this first. Mars, Inc. has also.
The evolution of space food.
Mars opened a store at Disney Springs in Florida. One of only seven locations in the world, the Orlando location has an opportunity for fans to create their own custom versions of the candy.
The store has a number of photo ops, one of which is devoted to M&M's being the "First Candy in Space". Fans can find related souvenirs for sale, like the exhibit, which displays that M&M&s first flew in space in 1981.
On March 22, 1982, the spaceship was launched.
Mars, Inc. claims that it was the first to leave the planet on the first shuttle launch. In 2004, M&M's ran a print ad showing two human-sized spacesuits propped up next to a smaller, more bulbous suit clearly intended for one of the brand's M&M's characters.
The ad said that you can board the shuttle since 1981.
The same fact was cited by Mars, Inc. when they gave the crew and members of Mission Control custom-printed candy in 2011.
Mars, Inc. officials wrote in a release at the time that "M&M's have been a part of every space shuttle mission since Columbia first launched on April 12, 1981."
Even if it was only on the mission's launch day in 1982, Mars was aware that it was M&M&s start in space.
During their seven-day mission on board Columbia, Gordon and Jack will be able to eat M&M's Plain Chocolate Candies.
They were chosen because they melt in your mouth, not in your hand, and in this case, your hot space shuttle.
Mars donated M&Ms to be tested for spaceflight, according to the 1982 release. They were able to maintain their integrity, appearance and taste after being stored in a high temperature environment for six months.
It turned out to be a good thing. He never ate M&M's in space. The four packages of candy that were hidden in Columbia's pantry came back to Earth 10 days later.
The first 25 space shuttle missions had food flown, but it wasn't until the next mission that M&M's were eaten in space. Four packages of candy-coated chocolates were launched on Columbia, enough for crewmates Thomas, Ken, Mattingly and Henry to have two, but only three of them were returned intact. It is not known who ate the first M&M in space, but Mattingly could not be reached in time for this article.
There are a few additional firsts for M&M's in space in NASA's summary.
Plain M&M's were first joined in space by Peanut M&M's, a candy-coated chocolate peanuts. On the first flight of the Discovery, peanut M&Ms were eaten in space.
The first time that Plain and Peanut M&M's were included on astronauts' pre-set menu was in the space shuttle Atlantis. Payload specialist Charlie Walker was the first to request Plain M&M's, whereas Discovery's commander, Hank Hartsfield, asked for and ate both his packs of Peanut M&M.
Mike Lounge was the first person to request Plain M&Ms on his menu.
The candy continued to make history even after the space shuttle missions, as additional flavors flew on later missions. M&M's were the first candy to fly on a privately funded spaceship, SpaceShipOne, in 2004, and M&M's remain an astronauts favorite today aboard the International Space Station.
Mars, Inc. acknowledged in a statement provided to collectSPACE that it all began on board the space shuttle. The company's internal historians are looking at the discrepancy in their promotional materials.
M&M&S has been bringing people together for more than 80 years, and we are proud of the colorful moments our brand has added, including being the first candy to fly in space.
The number of packages flown and returned on each of the first 25 space shuttle missions can be seen through collectSPACE.
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