A World First! “Green Curry Chicken” and “Herb Rice with Chicken” Selected as NASA Astronaut Meals

On June 9, 2025, at 7:45 PM Thai time, Thai cuisine made history by being sent to space for the first time aboard the Axiom Mission 4, launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA. The chosen dishes were green curry chicken and herb rice with chicken. These meals, crafted from Thai ingredients, underwent rigorous quality testing by NASA and Axiom Space to ensure safety, nutrition, shelf life, and suitability for consumption in zero gravity.

This project is a collaboration between the Department of Livestock Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Thai Processed Chicken Exporters Association, and Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited. Together, they drove the development of Thai food products meeting space-grade standards.

The process took several years, from selecting menus that reflect the unique character of Thai food and conducting food science research to adjusting the recipes to preserve their original flavor in a ready-to-eat format that is long-lasting and can be consumed in zero-gravity environments.

This achievement aligns with the rising global popularity of Thai food. Thai cuisine consistently ranks high in international polls, such as Massaman curry being named number one in CNN Travel’s “50 Most Delicious Foods in the World.”

Other favorites like green curry, tom yum goong, som tam, khao soi, and panang curry frequently appear in TasteAtlas rankings, which collect opinions from food lovers worldwide.

Thai food is renowned for its distinctive flavors, ingredients, and unique identity, earning widespread recognition internationally.

For more information: Office of Creative Culture Promotion

Link: www.thacca.go.th