Chinese astronauts hold first-ever space BBQ, cook chicken wings aboard Tiangong

Chinese Astronauts Cook Chicken Wings in Space Using New Oven (Image: @CNSpaceflight/ X)

The aroma of home-cooked food has reached outer space. Astronauts aboard China’s Tiangong space station recently cooked chicken wings in a newly installed oven, bringing a comforting taste of Earth to orbit.

How Are Astronauts Cooking in Microgravity?
The oven, delivered to Tiangong earlier this year, was quickly put to use by the six astronauts of the Shenzhou 20 and Shenzhou 21 missions. A video released by the Astronaut Center of China (ACC) showed the crew placing chicken wings inside a special grill cage before sliding it into a small cabinet-like compartment on the station’s wall.

According to the ACC, the device works like a microgravity microwave but functions more like an air fryer. It operates efficiently without overloading the power system and ensures smokeless and even baking inside the space station’s tightly controlled environment. The chicken wings were cooked for 28 minutes, while some peppered steak was prepared for Shenzhou 20 Commander Chen Dong.

The China Space Station got an oven, brought up by Shenzhou-21 https://t.co/0ojtnyFcdW pic.twitter.com/ks8D6NdO8f

— China 'N Asia Spaceflight 🚀𝕏 🛰️ (@CNSpaceflight) November 4, 2025

Why Does Cooking in Space Matter?
Experts say hot meals are crucial for astronauts’ mental well-being. Kang Guohua, a senior member of the Chinese Society of Astronautics and professor at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, told state media that warm food helps crews stay psychologically “grounded” during long missions.

Cooking in microgravity is far from simple. It requires precise control to prevent smoke or heat from affecting the station’s life support systems. The oven’s stable performance ensures astronauts can enjoy meals safely while maintaining operational standards aboard Tiangong.

How Is This Different from NASA’s Attempt?
The Global Times compared China’s achievement to NASA’s 2019 experiment, where astronauts baked cookies using a prototype Zero G oven aboard the International Space Station (ISS). That test showed baking in space takes longer than on Earth. However, China’s version is built for regular use and integrated into Tiangong’s systems, with certification for up to 500 operations.

What’s Next for the Crew?
The Shenzhou 21 crew launched to Tiangong on October 31 and will stay aboard for around six months. They replaced the Shenzhou 20 team, who have been in orbit since April and are set to return to Earth on November 5.

China’s astronauts may not have all the traditional kitchen comforts, but their new oven proves that space cuisine is becoming a little more homely, one cooked meal at a time.