NASA astronauts prepare ‘space sushi' aboard the ISS in zero gravity during a heartwarming crew celebration

Time of India

4 hours ago

Source: X
In the vastness of space, the comfort in food always remains close to the heart. ISS astronauts aboard shared the lighthearted moment during the
crew celebration
by crafting '
sushi in space
'. With minimal space supplies but still the astronauts managed to recreate using rice, spam, fish and a dash of gochujang and wasabi, they almost created familiar flavours that they missed from Earth. Recently,
NASA
astronaut
Jonny Kim
shared the experience through social media, highlighting how small things like sharing meals together can foster connection and boost morale in the microgravity. Despite the challenges in space, the power of food to bring joy and happiness is constant even hundreds of miles away.
Apart from the nutritional purpose, the
food in space
also carries psychological importance. The familiar tastes can anchor astronauts emotionally, providing comfort and a sense of normalcy. These meals remind astronauts of home and humanise the otherwise high-tech, mechanical environment of the space station.
NASA astronaut reveals how a sushi craving turned into a special space celebration
Long-duration missions aboard the ISS can last several months, during which astronauts are far from home, family, and the familiar comforts of Earth. While the focus of their mission is scientific research and maintaining the station, moments of celebration and bonding are crucial for mental well-being.
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NASA astronaut Jonny Kim shared the crew celebration story with
space sushi
through X (formerly Twitter) to share a rare behind-the-scenes moment from such a celebration, where a longing for sushi led to a creative and communal meal. 'Space sushi isn't quite the same as the fresh stuff on the ground, but it's not bad!' Kim joked. He explained that one crewmate had mentioned missing sushi—and he agreed. What followed was a heartening example of the crew rallying together to recreate the flavours they missed.
Source: X
Astronauts get creative with limited ingredients to make space sushi
Naturally, space doesn't offer the luxury of a kitchen, stove, or even fresh ingredients. Astronauts rely on shelf-stable, freeze-dried, and vacuum-sealed foods provided by NASA and other space agencies. To make 'space sushi,' the crew pooled their personal supplies. The key ingredients include rice, spam, and packaged fish, all of which are commonly found in the station's food inventory. For flavour, they added a touch of gochujang (a Korean fermented chili paste) and wasabi, creating a spicy, savory mix that mimicked the sushi they craved back on Earth.
As Kim described: 'So we collected and pitched in our personal supplies of fish, spam, and rice, coupled with a dash of gochujang and wasabi, which made for a great meal.'
While it wasn't traditional sashimi or California rolls, this improvisation satisfied more than just hunger; it satisfied an emotional need for familiarity and shared joy.
NASA astronauts recreate sushi using limited space supplies
Dining aboard the ISS comes with a unique set of problems. In microgravity, everything floats from grains of rice to the spoon you're trying to eat with and eating in careful handling, special packaging, and clever hacks.
To keep their sushi ingredients and utensils from floating away mid-meal, the astronauts taped their dining surface sticky-side up. This allowed them to stick food packets, small containers, and chopsticks in place while they assembled and ate their meal.This practical hack is a common practice aboard the ISS, where everything from tools to food needs to be secured at all times.
'Space sushi' moment from the ISS to Earth win hearts online
The sushi moment was more than just a snack; it was a celebration of human ingenuity, community, and resilience in space. In such a high-pressure, isolated setting, food plays a vital role in morale. Shared meals offer a chance for crew members from different cultures to connect, laugh, and enjoy something comforting.
Social media lit up in response to Kim's post, with many expressing admiration for the astronauts' resourcefulness. Comments ranged from admiration to light-hearted curiosity. One user wrote: 'Your space sushi party sounds like a blast, and that sticky-tape table hack is genius for keeping it all together in zero gravity.'
Another added: 'Love sushi too! You guys are the real stars of humanity.' Others wondered what sushi tastes like in microgravity and asked whether food feels different to eat when floating, sparking a fresh wave of interest in daily life on the ISS.
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