Credit: CCTV | The Daily Galaxy –Great Discoveries Channel

In a historic first, six Chinese astronauts shared a barbecue meal aboard the Tiangong space station, marking a milestone in orbital living. The event came during a crew handover between Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21, and featured dishes like marinated chicken wings and pepper steak. While the handover was later delayed due to debris concerns, the culinary experiment opened a new chapter in human spaceflight comfort and culture.

A Milestone Meal In Microgravity

The recent CCTVbroadcast highlighted how this unprecedented barbecue in orbit was made possible through innovative cooking technology. The incoming Shenzhou-21crew brought with them a specially designed hot-air oven, engineered to function safely in zero gravity. This device allowed astronauts to bake and grill, creating meals that resembled those prepared on Earth — complete with golden, crispy textures.

“By raising the temperature to 190 degrees Celsius, astronauts can now really cook in orbit. Previous food heating is purely physical warming, but this is actual cooking, with chemical reactions included. The food can now come out golden and crispy,” Liu Weibo, deputy chief designer of astronaut systems at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, explained in a statement to CCTV.

Beyond novelty, this marks a leap forward in long-duration mission living standards. Astronauts’ ability to prepare real meals—rather than reheating prepackaged foods—enhances both morale and nutrition. It reflects a shift in China’s space strategy toward sustainability and comfort, anticipating future missions that may last for months.

Science Behind The Smoke-Free Oven

Developing an oven that works in microgravity is no simple feat. Researchers from the China Astronaut Research and Training Center spent years creating a system that mimics convection without releasing smoke or stray particles—critical in a sealed environment like Tiangong.

“We used high-temperature catalysis and multi-layer filtration technologies to enable smoke-free baking,” said Xian Yong, a researcher at the center.

The oven’s design ensures both functionality and safety. Every aspect of its operation—airflow, heat distribution, and waste management—was tested under rigorous simulated conditions. As Xian noted, preventing smoke buildup and maintaining consistent air pressure were essential for both food quality and crew safety.

“Given the special conditions in orbit, we have made sure that the hot air oven is completely reliable and safe. Every part of the oven astronauts may touch remains cool so as to prevent burns,” he added.

This development reflects a broader engineering philosophy behind China’s space program: designing tools that merge comfort, safety, and scientific precision.

Cooking Beyond Necessity

Food has long been a psychological lifeline for astronauts. From NASA’s early freeze-dried meals to ESA’s European taste experiments, culinary innovation in space has evolved from pure sustenance to emotional support. The Chinese approach now adds another dimension—real cooking as a shared cultural experience.

“They can bake cakes, roast peanuts, or grill meat, and it’s really delicious. This means astronauts can enjoy special meals on weekends, birthdays, or holidays. It greatly helps to enrich their dining experience and improves overall living conditions in orbit,” Liu Weibo noted.

This human element — the joy of cooking, sharing, and celebrating — now finds its place in orbit. The ability to prepare festive meals has profound implications for long-term missions to the Moon or Mars, where psychological resilience and comfort will be as vital as oxygen and fuel.

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