What would you miss most after six months orbiting Earth, 400 kilometres above the ground? For astronauts, a familiar meal can offer a welcome taste of home. China is making that possible, bringing everything from dumplings to Kung Pao chicken to its space station.
China's space kitchen now offers nearly 200 food items, turning mealtimes aboard the Tiangong space station into something far more enjoyable than simply refuelling. The menu includes dumplings, mooncakes and traditional Chinese favourites such as Kung Pao chicken, mapo tofu and fried rice.
It marks a major shift from the early days of spaceflight, when astronauts relied on bland meals squeezed from tubes, with food designed primarily to provide energy.
Today, mealtimes play an important role in astronauts' physical and emotional wellbeing. With crews spending around six months aboard the station, familiar dishes can boost morale, ease homesickness and bring a sense of normality to life in orbit.
Even traditional celebrations have a place in space. Sharing mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival, for example, allows astronauts to maintain a connection with family traditions despite being hundreds of kilometres from home.
Preparing meals for space comes with unique challenges. Food must be safe, lightweight and able to remain fresh for extended periods.
Packaging is equally important. Crumbs and liquid droplets can float freely in microgravity, potentially damaging sensitive equipment.
Space also affects astronauts' sense of taste and appetite. In microgravity, flavours can seem less intense, making it essential to provide meals that are both nutritious and appealing.
Most supplies arrive aboard cargo spacecraft, with menus carefully planned to reflect each crew's preferences. Astronauts can heat or rehydrate many dishes, while occasional deliveries of fresh fruit and vegetables bring additional variety to their diets.
China's ambitions extend beyond preparing meals on Earth and sending them into orbit. Scientists are also exploring ways to grow food in space.
Experiments aboard Tiangong have included cultivating vegetables and other crops, with research aimed at helping astronauts become less dependent on supplies from Earth.
Such advances could prove crucial for longer missions, including future journeys to the Moon and potentially beyond.
For now, China's expanding space menu shows that life in orbit is about more than scientific experiments and survival.
Even 400 kilometres above Earth, a hot serving of mapo tofu can bring a little comfort from home.
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