Imagine this: astronauts, far from Earth, enjoying a sizzling plate of chicken wings and steak, cooked fresh in space! This isn't science fiction; it's the reality aboard China's space station, thanks to a revolutionary new oven.
The Shenzhou-21 mission has brought a taste of home to the cosmos. Space engineer Wu Fei, a member of the Shenzhou-21 crew, demonstrated the process in a viral video. He took marinated chicken wings, placed them on a skewer rack, and slid them into the oven. After approximately 28 minutes, the result was a plate of delicious, space-made New Orleans chicken wings.
But that's not all! Wang Jie from the Shenzhou-20 crew and Wu Fei, both hailing from Inner Mongolia, a region known for its high-quality beef and mutton, also cooked up a plate of black pepper steaks. The six astronauts shared the feast, their faces beaming with delight.
Launched late Friday, the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft and its crew joined the Shenzhou-20 crew, who were scheduled to return to Earth on November 5th. This mission highlights the ongoing advancements in space cuisine.
Here's where it gets interesting: The space oven is a significant upgrade from its Earthly counterparts. According to Liu Weibo from the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, the oven incorporates precise temperature control, residue collection, high-temperature catalysis, and multi-layer filtration. This allows for smoke-free baking in orbit, meeting the space station's stringent oil fume emission standards.
The oven and its purification system underwent rigorous testing, ensuring they could operate reliably for up to 500 cycles. This innovation is a testament to the dedication to astronaut well-being in space.
This marks a major leap in China's space station's life support system. The Shenzhou-21 mission has expanded the food variety to over 190 items and extended the menu cycle to 10 days. Astronauts can now cook and bake fresh ingredients like vegetables, nuts, cakes, and meat.
Liu explains that the ability to enjoy aromatic chicken wings, steaks, or freshly baked treats will undoubtedly bring a sense of joy to the astronauts after spending months in the confined space of the station.
And this is the part most people miss: Ground researchers have been tirelessly working to improve the variety, texture, flavor, appearance, and nutritional value of space food. They achieve this through technological innovation and process enhancements, better meeting the dietary needs of astronauts.
Furthermore, the space station's vegetable garden has seen remarkable progress. Since the Shenzhou-16 mission, in-orbit plant substrate cultivation has been researched and verified. Using regenerative substrate, long-term controlled-release fertilizer, and microporous water conduction technology, the garden has achieved effective water and nutrient supply under microgravity conditions.
So far, 10 batches of seven plant species, including lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and sweet potatoes, have been cultivated, providing astronauts with 4.5 kg of fresh fruits and vegetables. Notably, lettuce and cherry tomatoes have achieved a full-cycle cultivation from seed to seed.
Zang Peng from the center adds, "We prepared feasts for the astronauts for traditional Chinese festivals such as the Spring Festival, and there are even gift packages that can only be opened on the day of the festival."
But what do you think? Is this a sign of the future of space travel, or is it just a novelty? Do you think the focus on food is important for astronaut morale? Share your thoughts in the comments below! What kind of meal would you want to enjoy in space?
