August M
A Taste of Home Among the Stars
A Taste of Home Among the Stars
Cooking in Space – A New Era of Astronaut Life
Cooking and sharing meals are essential aspects of human life, providing comfort, connection, and joy. As space exploration advances, astronauts require more than pre-packaged meals; They need the ability to prepare fresh, appetizing food.
The Chinese space program has taken a major step by enabling astronauts to cook real meals aboard their space station, marking a significant milestone in human adaptation to life beyond Earth.
A Breakthrough in Space Dining
A viral video showed astronauts cooking chicken wings and steak, marking the first time fresh meat was prepared in orbit. Crew member Wu Fei cooked New Orleans-style chicken wings in about twenty-eight minutes, while Wang Jie assisted with black pepper steaks.
Reports indicate that the astronauts happily enjoyed these freshly prepared meals together, highlighting a new level of comfort in space living, according to Digi24.ro.
Advanced Space Technology
The oven was designed with precise temperature control, residue collection, and multi-layer filtration systems, according to Liu Weibo of the China Astronaut Research and Training Center.
These features enable smoke-free baking and ensure that the oven meets the space station’s emission standards. Reports state that both the oven and its purification system underwent rigorous testing and can operate for up to five hundred cycles.
Expanding the Space Menu
“According to the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, the Shenzhou-21 mission expanded the space menu to include over 190 food items with a 10-day rotation. The newly developed oven now enables astronauts to prepare and bake fresh ingredients such as vegetables, nuts, cakes, and meats while in orbit.”
This development marks progress not only in nutrition but also in psychological well-being, both of which are essential for long-term missions reports Digi24.ro.
Space Farming Progress
Reports show that astronauts have successfully grown vegetables in orbit since the Shenzhou-16 mission. Using regenerative substrate and micropore water conduction technology, they have cultivated seven plant species including lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and sweet potatoes.
To date, ten batches have produced four and a half kilograms of fresh food, with some completing full seed-to-seed cycles. Researcher Zang Peng noted that astronauts also enjoy holiday feasts and gift packages during traditional celebrations like the Spring Festival, bringing warmth and a sense of tradition to life in space, according to Digi24.ro.
The Future of Food in Space
The Chinese space station’s advancements in cooking and farming represent a major step toward self-sufficient living in space.
As humanity prepares for longer missions to the Moon and Mars, sustainable food systems will play a crucial role in supporting health and morale. Cooking in space is no longer a simple novelty; it symbolizes innovation, comfort, and human progress in the ongoing exploration of the universe.
This article is made and published by August M, who may have used AI in the preparation
