Hot dog! A picnic in orbit.



Astronaut Donald Thomas, a native of Ohio, had an extra spicey time in Outer Space aboard U.S. shuttle Columbia in April 1997. He packed a can of Tony Packo Hot Dog Sauce. He also took along Stadium Mustard.



The astronaut says he became hooked on that particular sauce during a 1996 dinner at Tony Packo's Cafe in Toledo, Ohio. The cafe has a tradition of asking celebrity guests to autograph a hot dog bun.



Thomas is from Cleveland Heights and a promoter of all things Ohio. Like all astronauts, he was allowed to pack a few extra items in his kit bag. He decided to take along the hot dog sauce and mustard.



Astronaut Thomas was the first astronaut to request Stadium Mustard. Now, the brand name Stadium Mustard used at Cleveland Stadium advertises itself on the Web as, "The mustard that's requested on space shuttle missions!"



Owner David Dwoskin, who first ate the mustard on three hot dogs in Cleveland Stadium at age 12, says his mustard has been served at that stadium for more than 50 years.



Stadium Mustard flew with Astronaut Thomas aboard shuttle Discovery from July 13-22, 1995, and on shuttle Columbia from April 4-8, 1997.