NASA employees answer: Is Space Coke really out of this world?

By Atalie Sherman

The human intrigue towards space is quite literally, universal. As new cosmic discoveries continue to impact the scientific world, the mystery of space continues to influence pop-culture, an idea that The Coca-Cola Co. sought to capitalize on with their new drink, Starlight Coke. Affectionately branded “Space Coke” by fans, the drink promises to be “space-flavored” while still holding true to the classic Coke brand. Wanting to uncover the hype behind the stellar soda, I asked NASA employees to give me their unbiased opinions and answer my most pressing question: Is Space Coke truly out of this world? 

John M. Grunsfeld, astronaut and former Head Chief Scientist of NASA

John Grunsfeld is a highly decorated physicist who served as the Head Chief Scientist for NASA, researching astrophysics and serving as the associate administrator of NASA’s Space Mission Directorate. As an American astronaut who made five Space Shuttle flights while working at NASA, Grunsfeld is no stranger to space and especially not to space food.

Picture of John Grunsfeld provided by NASA

“The food we had in space always lacked flavor,” he described.

“As astronauts, we would look to bring condiments to space that would add spice or boldness to our meals, like jalapeno ketchup,” he laughed. 

When discussing his hope for Space Coke, Mr. Grunsfeld believes that “as long as the flavor of Starlight Coke is bold, it will be appreciated by many of us who have spent time working and living in space.”

Gabe Sherman, former NASA Chief of Staff

As the last Chief of Staff for NASA, Sherman led the organization’s strategic communication efforts, partnering with the people of NASA and the federal government to support policies that encourage rocket-launches from American soil.

Picture of Starlight Coke taken by Atalie Sherman

“The packaging is solid,” Sherman noted, commenting on the coke's pink-and-purple-starred design.“It definitely says space to me, while still being reminiscent of the Coke brand.”

Upon taking a drink, Sherman described a clear distinction in taste from true Coke, saying that the flavor had almost a “toasted-marshmallow” taste to it that was “sweeter” than typical coke. 

“The aftertaste is definitely… different,” he said with a pause, “but really interesting.”

When asked if he believed that the soda tasted like space as Coke claimed, Sherman responded scientifically, saying that because “space has no atmosphere, there really isn’t a way for us to smell or taste it to determine that.”

He noted, though, that “If space had a flavor, I wouldn’t mind it tasting like Space Coke.” 

All in all, Gabe Sherman ended his review of Starlight Coke with an optimistic rating of 8/10.

Matt Rydin, former NASA Press Secretary

As the last Press Secretary of NASA, Matt Rydin effectively communicated the plans and ideas of NASA to journalists and the general public, running the organization’s social media and relaying information to news sources.

Upon seeing the bottle of Starlight Coke, Rydin pointed out the new Coke's difference in color, noting that it looks much “redder” than the average soda.

When it came to the celestial packaging, he noted that the drink definitely “conveyed space” in its star-studded orange and magenta design. 

Taking a drink of the Coke, Rydin commented that the taste was “definitely sweeter” than usual, but he “couldn’t quite place the taste,” acknowledging that the drink also had a “slight fruity flavor to it” that differentiated it from regular Coke.

While Matt Rydin couldn't confirm that the drink truly “tasted like space” as Coke claims, he rated the space-themed beverage a stellar 7/10.

With the galaxy-themed packaging and space-inspired flavor of Starlight Coke, the drink's success was certainly “written in the stars.” A new staple in “pop”-culture, the Coke’s appeal extends far past the average space-enthusiast. Creating a new flavor whose intrigue conveys all the mysteries of space certainly couldn't have been easy for the Coke team, and definitely impressed the NASA judges. Overall, though the exact taste of space will remain a mystery to most, we definitely wouldn’t mind it tasting like Starlight Coke.