TIANGONG SPACE STATION — In a milestone for space living, Chinese taikonauts aboard the Tiangong space station have conducted the world’s first in-orbit barbecue, grilling chicken wings and beef steaks using a newly developed convection oven designed for microgravity.

The event, captured on CCTV footage and confirmed by reports from CNN and Space.com (November 4–7, 2025), marks a culinary breakthrough in long-duration spaceflight. The custom-built oven roasted food in just 28 minutes—faster than comparable International Space Station units—while maintaining safety through sealed air filtration to trap aromas and juices.

Unlike the freeze-dried barbecue experiments of NASA’s 1989 STS-42 mission, the Tiangong oven allows astronauts to prepare fresh, hot meals in space for the first time. Engineers say the innovation will improve both crew morale and nutritional diversity, critical factors for extended missions and China’s long-term goal of maintaining a sustainable human presence in orbit.

The Shenzhou-21 crew demonstrated the oven’s use in microgravity, turning a routine systems test into a moment of levity—complete with sizzling food and laughter floating through the station’s lab module. Chinese space officials hailed the event as “a small taste of home, and a big step for space cuisine,” symbolizing the growing sophistication of China’s orbital technology and human spaceflight program.