Inside the 'space oven' making Chinese astronauts' barbecue possible

Astronauts aboard China's space station have, for the first time, used an onboard oven to bake food in orbit, marking a major upgrade to the "space kitchen."

The hot air oven, delivered by the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft, has allowed crew members of the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 missions to enjoy freshly baked dishes like chicken wings and steak. This achievement marks a significant step forward from simple reheating to actual cooking and baking in China's space program.

"We used high-temperature catalysis and multi-layer filtration technologies to enable smoke-free baking. 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 to prevent burns," said Xuan Yong, a researcher at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center.

"We have built the range hood inside the oven, so it's a hot-air oven with built-in purification. It's the first-ever oven in the world that can actually be used aboard a space station," said Liu Weibo, deputy chief designer of the astronaut system with China Astronaut Research and Training Center.

Engineers have also added a residue collector, heating mesh, baking tray, and rotating basket to the oven, resolving the issue of food floating in zero gravity. They have also raised the maximum heating temperature from 100 to 190 degrees Celsius.

"By raising the temperature to 190 degrees Celsius, astronauts can now really cook in orbit. Previous food heating was just physical warming, but this is genuine cooking, involving chemical reactions. The food can now come out golden and crispy," said Liu.

The oven also includes preset programs for various ingredients, like corn, chicken wings, and cake.

“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 enhances their dining experience and improves overall living conditions in orbit," Liu said.