Delivery driver earns big tip; astronauts get pizza, ice cream

By Marcia Dunn The Associated Press

8 years ago

The International Space Station’s robotic arm reaches to capture the Cygnus cargo spacecraft, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, 260 miles above the earth. The commercial supply ship arrived at the International Space Station on Tuesday, two days after launching from Virginia. (NASA TV via AP)

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The International Space Station’s robotic arm captures the Cygnus cargo spacecraft, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, 260 miles (418 kms.) above the earth. The commercial supply ship arrived at the International Space Station on Tuesday, two days after launching from Virginia. (NASA TV via AP)

The International Space Station’s robotic arm reaches to capture the Cygnus cargo spacecraft, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, 260 miles (418 kms.) above the earth. The commercial supply ship arrived at the International Space Station on Tuesday, two days after launching from Virginia. (NASA TV via AP)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Astronauts are getting a mouth-watering haul with the latest Earth-to-space delivery — pizza and ice cream.

A commercial supply ship arrived at the International Space Station on Tuesday, two days after launching from Virginia. Besides equipment and experiments, the Orbital ATK capsule holds chocolate and vanilla ice cream for the six station astronauts, as well as make-your-own flatbread pizzas.

Astronauts always crave pizza in orbit, but it’s been particularly tough for Italy’s Paolo Nespoli. He’s been up there since July and has another month to go.

Nespoli used the space station’s robot arm to grab the cargo ship, as they zoomed 260 miles above the Indian Ocean.

Besides flatbread, the capsule contains all the makings of a good Earth pizza: sauce, cheese, pepperoni, anchovy paste, tomatoes, pesto, olive oil and more.