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Space is a 'burrito of awesomeness' says our new favorite astronaut

This guy is pumped about being on the ISS.

Keith Wagstaff

on April 20, 2017

Space is a 'burrito of awesomeness' says our new favorite astronaut

The constellation of Virgo (The Virgin) is especially rich in galaxies, due in part to the presence of a massive and gravitationally-bound collection of over 1300 galaxies called the Virgo Cluster. One particular member of this cosmic community, NGC 4388, is captured in this image, as seen by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). Located some 60 million light-years away, NGC 4388 is experiencing some of the less desirable effects that come with belonging to such a massive galaxy cluster. It is undergoing a transformation, and has taken on a somewhat confused identity. While the galaxy’s outskirts appear smooth and featureless, a classic feature of an elliptical galaxy, its centre displays remarkable dust lanes constrained within two symmetric spiral arms, which emerge from the galaxy’s glowing core — one of the obvious features of a spiral galaxy. Within the arms, speckles of bright blue mark the locations of young stars, indicating that NGC 4388 has hosted recent bursts of star formation. Despite the mixed messages, NGC 4388 is classified as a spiral galaxy. Its unusual combination of features are thought to have been caused by interactions between NGC 4388 and the Virgo Cluster. Gravitational interactions — from glancing blows to head-on collisions, tidal influencing, mergers, and galactic cannibalism — can be devastating to galaxies. While some may be lucky enough to simply suffer a distorted spiral arm or newly-triggered wave of star formation, others see their structure and contents completely and irrevocably altered. Credit: Composite: Shutterstock and ESA/Hubble & NASA

Space. It's awesome.

Just ask NASA astronaut Jack Fischer, who just flew in space for the very first time.

After arriving safe and sound at the International Space Station on Thursday, his words -- like Neil Armstrong's "one giant leap for mankind"-- will surely inspire future generations of astronauts.

"It’s a burrito of awesomeness smothered in awesome sauce, baby. It’s sooo beautiful."

Damn, I've never been that excited about anything in my life. Or hungry, for space and burritos.

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Is Jack on Twitter? You better believe it. And he's "pumped" about things that are "wicked cool," like this "sexy rocket."

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Look at those smiles. Like a thermonuclear reaction of pure joy.

Fischer uttered his now famous burrito analogy while talking to his wife. Later, his daughter congratulated him for fulfilling the dream he's had since he was 6 years old (*wipes tear from eye*).

Jack already got his ISS crewmate to do a flip on camera -- a sign that he'll be the life of the party for the six months he's up there.

So whenever you're feeling down, remember good ol' Jack floating in orbit on the ISS, spreading his enthusiasm across space.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Keith Wagstaff

Keith Wagstaff is an assistant editor at Mashable and a terrible Settlers of Catan player. He has written for TIME, The Wall Street Journal Magazine, NBC News, The Village Voice, VICE, GQ and New York Magazine, among many other reputable and not-so-reputable publications. After nearly a decade in New York City, he now lives in his native Los Angeles.