Overview
- Chinese officials describe the device as the first oven suitable for a space station, now operating aboard Tiangong.
- The hot-air oven, delivered by Shenzhou-21, has been used by Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 crews to cook items such as chicken wings and steak.
- Smoke-free operation relies on high-temperature catalysis, multi-layer filtration, a built-in range hood, a residue collector, and a rotating basket to contain crumbs and fumes.
- The unit offers ingredient presets and, according to the Astronaut Center of China, cooked chicken wings in about 28 minutes and is rated for 500 operating cycles.
- Program designers say the capability broadens menu options and supports crew comfort on long missions, complementing a 190-item food rotation and recent harvests from Tiangong’s vegetable experiments.