Specially designed hot air oven allows Chinese astronauts to cook in orbit

Astronauts aboard China's space station have, for the first time, used an onboard oven to bake food in orbit, marking a significant 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 represents a major 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 so as 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 astronaut system with China Astronaut Research and Training Center.

Engineers have also equipped the oven with a residue collector, heating mesh, baking tray, and rotating basket, solving the problem of food floating in zero gravity. They have also increased 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 is purely physical warming, but this is actual cooking, with chemical reactions included. The food can now come out golden and crispy," said Liu.

The oven also has preset programs for different ingredients, such as 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 helps to enrich their dining experience and improves overall living conditions in orbit," Liu said.

Specially designed hot air oven allows Chinese astronauts to cook in orbit

China hopes to have an in-depth exchange of views with Mexico on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual concern during the upcoming China visit by Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Roberto Velasco Alvarez, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

At the invitation of Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Velasco will visit China from September 6 to 7, Guo Jiakun, the spokesman, announced at a press conference in Beijing.

"Mexico is a major country in Latin America and an important emerging market. China and Mexico are comprehensive strategic partners. Over the past five decades since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-Mexico relations have continued to develop in depth, with fruitful exchanges and cooperation across the board and close coordination and collaboration in international and regional affairs," Guo said.

"The upcoming visit will mark Mr. Velasco’s first visit to China since he took office in April. Through the visit, China hopes that the two sides will have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common interest, further enhance political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, promote the steady growth of China-Mexico relations, and deliver more benefits to both peoples," he said.

China eyes in-depth talks with Mexico as foreign secretary set to visit: spokesman