Coke in Space

Did you know that Coke was the first soft drink to be consumed in outer space?

On July 12, 1985, astronauts tested the “Coca-Cola Space Can” aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. Six years later, on August 26, 1991, the Company and Soviet space agency NPO Energia successfully tested the Coca-Cola Space Can on board the Soviet space station Mir. The third trip was in February 1995, when diet Coke became the first diet soft drink in space and the Space Shuttle Discovery’s mission marked the first use of soft-drink fountain equipment in space (the Coca-Cola Space Dispenser/Monitor). On May 19, 1996, another innovative fountain dispenser -- serving Coke, diet Coke and sports drink Powerade -- was launched aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour.

This is a photo of the space can from 1985 – note that we served the astronauts “new Coke”!