China’s astronauts just added a new flavor to life in orbit: the taste of freshly grilled chicken wings.

In a first for the China Space Station, crew members from the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 missions have used a new oven to cook and enjoy a space barbecue, marking a milestone in comfort and innovation aboard the station.

The Astronaut Center of China (ACC) shared footage of the astronauts preparing New Orleans–style chicken wings and black pepper steak, and savoring the sizzling results.

According to the ACC, the oven is part of efforts to improve the quality of life for taikonauts on long-haul missions.

Designed to handle the challenges of microgravity, the oven can perform smokeless, oil-free baking while meeting the station’s strict emission standards.

“After making technical breakthroughs in temperature control, residue collection, high-temperature catalysis, multi-layer filtration and other technologies, the oven achieves smokeless (oil-free) baking in orbit,” said Liu Weibo from the Astronaut Center of China. “It can operate continuously and reliably for 500 cycles.”

Space barbecue breakthrough

While the International Space Station once baked chocolate chip cookies in orbit as an experiment, China’s oven appears to be far more powerful and practical.

In 2020, NASA astronauts tested a prototype built by NanoRacks and Zero G Kitchen, which took over two hours to bake a single cookie. By contrast, the Chinese oven grilled chicken wings in just 28 minutes, suggesting superior heating performance.

“The oven was designed from the outset with full consideration of the space station’s energy compatibility, uniform heat distribution, and safety,” said Kang Guohua, professor of Aerospace Engineering at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

“We built on prior experience and made extensive optimizations.”

For astronauts living months away from home, the ability to cook fresh meals offers more than just nutrition, it’s comfort.

“The space station is not just a laboratory; it is also the taikonauts’ home,” Kang added. “A barbecue that soothes the soul is not just about satisfying the appetite – it’s also a way to stay grounded psychologically.”

More than 190 dishes

Beyond the barbecue, the Shenzhou-21 mission has expanded the space menu to more than 190 items, with a 10-day rotation.

The crew can now prepare ingredients like nuts, cakes, and fresh vegetables using the oven and other cooking tools.

The menu upgrades coincide with ongoing research aboard the space station’s vegetable garden, where astronauts have successfully grown lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and sweet potatoes.

So far, these experiments have yielded 4.5 kilograms of produce, with some plants completing full growth cycles from seed to seed.

“We prepared feasts for the astronauts for traditional Chinese festivals such as the Spring Festival,” said Zang Peng from the Astronaut Center. “There are even gift packages that can only be opened on the day of the festival.”

As China’s manned space program enters its long-term operational phase, it’s not just about science and technology: it’s also about flavor, familiarity, and the human touch.

From lab work to late-night grilling, the China Space Station is beginning to feel a little more like home.

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With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.