NASA astronauts pack personal items for Artemis II mission
05 Apr 2026

The four astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission have packed personal items to keep their spirits high during the journey.

The crew members were each given a personal preference kit (PPK) of just 5-inch by 2-inch and weighing no more than 1.5kg.

They filled these kits with items that mean the most to them, from family heirlooms to handwritten notes from loved ones.

What the crew members packed
Personal items

Pilot Victor Glover, a married father of four daughters, took family heirloom wedding rings and inspirational quotes from Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart.

Mission Specialist Christina Koch brought handwritten notes from loved ones as a tactile connection to her family on Earth.

Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen packed a necklace with moon-shaped pendants engraved with "Moon and back," featuring his family's birthstones and names.

Hansen's maple syrup and cookies, Wiseman's notebook
Extra treats

Along with the necklace, Hansen also packed maple syrup and cookies to share with his fellow astronauts.

Mission Commander Reid Wiseman brought a small notebook to record his thoughts for his two teenage daughters, Ellie and Katherine.

He was frank about the mission's risks to his girls, telling them where they could find his will and trust documents in case anything happened during the journey.

Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin's PPKs from Apollo 11 mission
Historical significance

The use of PPKs as a simple, non-tech way to keep space travelers connected to Earth has a long history.

During Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong carried a small piece of wood and fabric from the Wright Flyer. Michael Collins brought flags while Buzz Aldrin took communion on the Moon from a special kit.

These personal touches have been an integral part of human space exploration since its inception.

Artemis II mission to Moon
Mission details

The Artemis II mission is NASA's first crewed trip to the Moon's orbit since the Apollo program ended in 1972.

The 322-foot Space Launch System rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 6:35pm ET on Wednesday.

The Orion crew capsule will spend 10 days on this journey, testing its systems in deep space for future lunar landings.