The World of NASA Space Food

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Here What Do Astronauts Eat and How?

Eating in zero gravity is far more complicated than you'd imagine. Crumbs can be fatal to equipment, and fermented foods could literally explode. Welcome to the amazing world of space food developed by NASA and space agencies around the globe.

1. Why Eating in Space Is So Hard

  • Zero gravity: Food floats around. Crumbs can get into sensitive equipment and cause malfunctions — crumbly foods like croissants are unsuitable as space food
  • Dulled taste: In microgravity, bodily fluids shift toward the head, creating a stuffy-nose-like condition that dulls taste and smell. Astronauts prefer boldly flavored foods — spicy, salty, umami-rich
  • Fermentation danger: Fermented foods carry risks from microorganisms and gas production, making them tricky to prepare as space food

2. Korea's Pride — Space Kimchi 🇰🇷

In 2008, when South Korea's first astronaut traveled to space aboard a Russian mission, kimchi went along. Korean scientists spent millions of dollars and many years engineering "space kimchi."

This was no ordinary kimchi. The strong smell was reduced by a third to half, and the lactic acid bacteria responsible for its tangy flavor were killed with radiation. As one scientist put it: "Imagine if a bag of kimchi starts fermenting and bubbling out of control and bursts all over the sensitive equipment of the spaceship."

"If a Korean goes to space, kimchi must go there, too" — exactly as promised.

3. National Pride on the Menu — Space Food Around the World

  • Japan 🇯🇵: In 2005, Momofuku Ando, creator of instant ramen, developed "Space Ram" for astronaut Soichi Noguchi. Featuring thinner noodles that need no boiled water and a thick broth that clings to the bowl
  • China 🇨🇳: On their first crewed mission, Chinese astronauts celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival with sweet rice dumplings, lotus seeds, and fried rice
  • France 🇫🇷: Croissants remain un-space-worthy due to crumbs, but French chefs created galactic versions of lobster, scallops, and stuffed quail for special occasions
  • Malaysia & UAE 🇲🇾🇦🇪: Traditional dishes like satay, madrooba, and saloona have made it onto ISS menus

4. Amazing Meal Milestones on the ISS

  • Space espresso (2014): Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti enjoyed the first authentic espresso in space, made with a device from the Italian Space Agency in cooperation with Lavazza
  • Space cookies (2019): Chocolate chip cookies baked in the Zero G oven, returned to Earth aboard SpaceX 19
  • Space kimchi fried rice (2025): NASA astronaut Jonny Kim made his own kimchi fried rice with kimchi, gochujang, rice, and Spam. "It wasn't as good as I could make at home on Earth, but in space you work with the best you've got, and I really, really enjoyed it"

5. Vegetables Grown in Space

  • 2014: Astronauts harvested and ate the first lettuce grown in space
  • 2017: Chili peppers successfully cultivated — adding spice to astronaut meals!
  • 2021: Radishes grown and eaten in orbit — vital research for food systems on future deep-space missions like Mars

6. Homesickness and Food — Why "Mom's Cooking" Matters

Astronauts get homesick, and familiar fare helps alleviate those pangs of loneliness. That's why each country's space agency invests heavily in making their national dishes space-ready. Kimchi for Koreans, lasagna for Italians.

Conclusion

Space food isn't just "something to eat" — it's a fusion of science, culture, and psychology. The human determination to spend millions taming kimchi's aroma and baking cookies in a zero-gravity oven — next time you spot the ISS in the night sky, someone up there might be enjoying kimchi fried rice! 

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