Artemis II Astronaut Took Super Bowl Confetti to Moon

Christina Koch brought a piece of New Orleans' Super Bowl LIX celebration on her historic lunar flyby mission.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:58pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A bold, abstract painting in earthy tones of ochre, sage, and indigo depicting sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals, representing the structural order and cosmic scale of the Artemis II lunar flyby mission.A personal touch of Super Bowl confetti aboard the historic Artemis II lunar flyby mission symbolizes the human spirit of space exploration.New Orleans Today

One of the astronauts who made history with the Artemis II lunar flyby, Christina Koch, brought pieces of confetti from Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on her mission to the far side of the moon. Koch, a Philadelphia Eagles fan, attended the game in New Orleans and later posted on Instagram about surprising her husband by flying the confetti around the moon.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission was a historic milestone, marking the first time humans have traveled to the far side of the moon since the Apollo program. Koch's personal touch of bringing Super Bowl confetti highlights the human element of space exploration and the personal connections astronauts make with their hometowns and loved ones.

The details

During Artemis II's nearly 10-day mission, the astronauts captured images of the moon never seen before. On their record-breaking flyby, the astronauts reached a maximum of 252,756 miles from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon. Koch was a mission specialist for Artemis II, alongside commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and fellow mission specialist Jeremy Hansen.

  • Artemis II's nearly 10-day mission took place in 2026.
  • Super Bowl LIX was hosted in New Orleans in 2025.

The players

Christina Koch

A mission specialist for the Artemis II lunar flyby mission who brought confetti from Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans to the moon.

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission.

Victor Glover

The pilot of the Artemis II mission.

Jeremy Hansen

A mission specialist for the Artemis II mission, alongside Christina Koch.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Going to the Moon may have been my Super Bowl, but I sure loved watching yours. (I watch Eagles games on Earth, too.) My husband introduced me to this team and city—gritty, hard working and embodying the underdog mentality. Now I'm all in. As a surprise for him, I flew confetti from Super Bowl LIX around the Moon. Go birds!”

— Christina Koch, Artemis II Mission Specialist

What’s next

The Artemis II crew is expected to return to Earth in the coming weeks, marking the successful completion of the first crewed lunar flyby mission since the Apollo program.

The takeaway

Christina Koch's personal gesture of bringing Super Bowl confetti to the moon highlights the human element of space exploration and the deep connections astronauts maintain with their hometowns and loved ones, even as they push the boundaries of human achievement in space.