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astronaut rider ChinaThe Tiangong space station has successfully grilled chicken wings and steak in a microgravity environment for the first time.
The space barbecue was made possible by a new type of oven that allows smokeless and residue-free cooking in orbit.
A video of the feat shows the astronauts placing chicken wings in a cage and placing it in a hatch that is the same size as an air fryer.
“This is the first oven of its kind in the world that can actually be used on the space station,” said Liu Weibo, deputy chief designer of the China Astronaut Research and Training Center.
“By increasing the temperature to 190 degrees Celsius, astronauts can now actually cook food in orbit. Heating food at first is purely physical heating, but this is actual cooking, which also involves chemical reactions. Food can now be golden and crispy.”
Astronaut Wu Fei described freshly cooked chicken wings as having “exquisite color, aroma and taste.”
According to China’s space agency, the oven can be used to bake cakes, roast peanuts or grill meat, allowing astronauts to enjoy “special meals” on weekends or holidays.
The cooking equipment is part of a broader effort to improve living conditions for astronauts on long-duration missions, who currently live on freeze-dried and reheatable food.
On the International Space Station (ISS), all food is precooked or processed, so it can be prepared by adding water or heating it.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are delivered during resupply missions, although they must be eaten within a few days to avoid spoiling.
According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), China’s space station is also capable of cultivating lettuce, tomatoes and potatoes, which can be used for cooking in the new space oven.
“We used high-temperature catalysts and multi-layer filtration technologies to enable smoke-free baking,” said Juan Yong, a researcher at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center.
“Given the special conditions in orbit, we have ensured that the hot air oven is completely reliable and safe. Every part of the oven that astronauts can touch remains cool to avoid burns.”