https://j.people.com.cn/n3/2025/1104/c95952-20386095.html

The astronauts aboard the manned spacecraft Shenzhou 21 and Shenzhou 20, which successfully rendezvoused at the Chinese space station, recently began using the hot-air oven delivered by Shenzhou 21, enjoying roast chicken wings and steak for the first time in their “space home.” Xinhua reported. This is the first time that an oven has been installed in the “space kitchen” of a Chinese space station, marking the realization of grilling astronaut meals in orbit.

According to video footage sent back to Earth, the astronauts removed pre-seasoned chicken wings from a bag, attached them to a skewer holder, and placed them in the hot-air oven for 28 minutes. The result was “space-grade New Orleans chicken wings” oozing with oil. Shenzhou 20 astronaut Wang Jie and Shenzhou 21 astronaut Wu Fei, both from Inner Mongolia, worked together to grill a piping hot black pepper steak, much to the delight of Shenzhou 20’s commander, Chen Dong.

The space “oven” combines technologies such as temperature control, residue collection, high-temperature catalysts, and multi-layer filters to achieve smokeless cooking in orbit, eliminating the generation of smoke and oil, and meeting the space station’s exhaust standards. In addition, the purification device and main unit have undergone rigorous testing and meet the space station’s usage standards, allowing for stable operation for 500 consecutive cycles.