Astro Pops were created in 1963 in El Segundo, California, by two scientists who worked for Rocketdyne, the company that made Saturn V rocket engines used for moon missions. The candy was designed to resemble a three-stage rocket, with a yellow tip, green center, and red base. Original flavors included passionfruit, cherry, and pineapple. Specialized equipment was not available, so the inventors built it by hand after forming The Nellson Candy Company. Hot candy was poured directly into a cone-shaped wrapper that acted as a mold, helping prevent bubbles and keeping the candy smooth. A paper stick was inserted and a wax cap sealed the end, with the cap not intended to be eaten. The candy later expanded into additional flavors such as Rappin' Raspberry, Awesome Hot Pops, Patriot Pops, and Sundae Pops.
"Astro Pops were invented in 1963 by two scientists working in El Segundo, California. Sadly, we don't know their names, but the pair worked for Rocketdyne, the company that made the engines NASA used in the Saturn V rockets that took astronauts to the moon. So when people say that rocket scientists invented Astro Pops, they aren't lying."
"Taking inspiration from the tech they'd been working on, the Astro Pop inventors designed the candy to look like a three-stage rocket. The pop had a yellow tip that switched to a green center and a red base. The three original flavors were passionfruit, cherry, and pineapple."
"The specialized equipment to make Astro Pops did not exist previously, so the inventors built it by hand when they formed The Nellson Candy Company. The candy was poured directly into a cone-shaped wrapper while still hot. The wrapper served as a mold and was key to ensuring the shape and separation of colors. This method prevented bubbles from forming and kept the candy smooth."
"Once the mold was filled with candy, a paper stick was inserted and a wax cap sealed the end. Unlike the wax in some other candies, the cap was not meant to be eaten. After the candy had cooled, the pop had a pointy, cone shape that evoked rocket imagery and fit the cool, retro aesthetic we associate with the space race today."
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