The Belgian ESA astronaut Raphaël Liégeois, who will leave for a six-month space mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year, has chosen two favorite dishes to take into space. He chose traditional Flemish ham rolls with chicory and cheese sauce, but Liège meatballs are also on the menu, because they remind him of home.
In the past, astronauts often ate food from tubes, but today they can choose between 200 meals for their space mission. They can also add a few ‘bonus’ meals.
Authentic apple and pear syrup
The dishes are prepared in advance in Belgium by two chefs. The food is packaged in cans in a way that ensures it remains fresh at room temperature, as the ISS does not have a refrigerator. Every chicory roll is individually packed in a tin can. The dishes will be heated in an oven.
The dishes must be prepared with great care. For example, the cheese sauce should not be too runny, because it starts to float around in space. The food should also not be too salty, because in space your tongue swells, and that affects your taste.
The Flemish classic chicory with ham and cheese sauce is made with Orval cheese, a reference to the Liégeois family ties with the region. Authentic Liège syrup, made from apples and pears, is used in the sauce for Liège meatballs. In other words, the dishes represent a touch of Belgium, in orbit around the Earth.
Share each other’s favorite dishes
The personal meals that astronauts take into space serve as a cultural or emotional anchor and are shared with other crew members, who learn about each other’s culture and favorite dishes.
Raphaël Liégeois’ trip to the ISS is planned for the second half of 2026. He will stay there for six months. He will then be the third Belgian in space. Liégeois will also take three Belgian experiments to the ISS. For this, he will be taking corn, slime molds, and a quantum sensor with him.
