We Have Lift Off: Famous DoubleTree by Hilton Chocolate Chip Cookies Launched for the International Space Station, Set to Become the First Food Baked in Orbit
Along with a prototype oven, the brand’s cookies launched in a rocket Saturday from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility as part of a landmark microgravity experiment
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MCLEAN, Va. - DoubleTree by Hilton and its guests around the world have always said the brand’s famous chocolate chip cookies are out-of-this-world, and today, the cookies are officially on the International Space Station (ISS) and about to become the first food baked in space. Launched at 9:59 a.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 2 from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, the brand’s cookie dough will be baked inside a prototype oven in the coming days by astronauts in a historic scientific experiment. The spacecraft officially arrived at the ISS at 4:10 a.m. ET this morning and was bolted into place on the station’s Earth-facing port.
Announced earlier this year, the launch is a result of a partnership between DoubleTree by Hilton; Zero G Kitchen, which creates appliances for microgravity use in long-duration space flights; and Nanoracks, a leading provider of commercial access to space. The objective of the initiative is to make long-duration space travel more hospitable.
“While Hilton has had many firsts throughout its 100-year history, this experiment will mark Hilton as the first hospitality company to participate in research aboard the space station,” said Shawn McAteer, senior vice president and global head, DoubleTree by Hilton. “We’re thrilled our DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie is sending Hilton hospitality into orbit and contributing to a pivotal moment in aerospace history as we test the outcome of the first food baked in space.”
Mary Murphy, senior internal payloads manager, Nanoracks, continues, “We’re excited to test the prototype oven in space with the DoubleTree chocolate chip cookies, as all aspects of the oven and trays were designed by Nanoracks for operation in the microgravity environment of the ISS. What’s so interesting about this is that it will be the first time anything will be baked in space. What will the cookies look like? Will they bake out equally in all directions and form a sphere, or stay flat? While we don’t know for sure how the experiment will turn out, we are looking forward to finding out and learning how to best bake food products in space.”
After the baking experiment, the cookies will undergo additional testing back on Earth to assess the outcome. But don’t worry, astronauts aboard the ISS will be given an opportunity to enjoy special pre-baked DoubleTree chocolate chip cookies since those baked in the prototype oven will return to Earth to be studied. Stay tuned for additional information on the results from DoubleTree by Hilton in the coming weeks.
Learn more about the launch and the technology behind the oven by visiting www.cookiesinspace.com or www.newsroom.hilton.com/cookiesinspace. Additional photo and video footage of the launch is provided by NASA.
About Zero G Kitchen LLC
Based in New York City, Zero G Kitchen was founded with a goal of building a kitchen in space, piece-by-piece, and offering its use to a variety of food researchers, educators and companies with an interest in the future of food and household appliances in space. Founders Ian and Jordana Fichtenbaum are leading the way with Zero G Kitchen’s first appliance, a small oven.
About Nanoracks
Nanoracks LLC, an XO Markets company, is the world’s leading commercial space station company. Nanoracks believes commercial space utilization will enable innovation through in-space manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, fiber optics – and more, allow for transformational Earth observation, and make space a key player in finding the solution to Earth’s problems.
Today, the company offers low-cost, high-quality solutions to the most pressing needs for satellite deployment, basic and educational research, and more –in over 30 nations worldwide. Since 2009, Texas-based Nanoracks has truly created new markets and ushered in a new era of in-space-services, dedicated to making space just another place to do business.
About DoubleTree by Hilton
DoubleTree by Hilton is a fast-growing, global portfolio of more than 590 upscale hotels with more than 136,000 rooms across 48 countries. For more than 50 years, DoubleTree by Hilton has continued to be a symbol of comfort for business and leisure travelers around the world, from welcoming guests with its signature warm DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie, to serving the local community. DoubleTree by Hilton offers contemporary accommodations and amenities, including unique food and beverage experiences, state-of-the-art fitness offerings and meetings and events spaces. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. To make reservations, travelers may visit doubletree.com. Connect with DoubleTree by Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Learn about the latest brand news at newsroom.hilton.com/doubletree.
About Hilton
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 18 world-class brands comprising more than 6,200 properties with more than 983,000 rooms, in 118 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its mission to be the world’s most hospitable company, Hilton welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its 100-year history, earned a top spot on the 2019 World’s Best Workplaces list, and was named the 2019 Global Industry Leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. In 2020, Hilton CleanStay was introduced, bringing an industry-defining standard of cleanliness and disinfection to hotels worldwide. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the 108 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can’t buy, plus enjoy instant benefits, including digital check-in with room selection, Digital Key, and Connected Room. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.