NASA Astronauts Make “Space Sushi” on the ISS: A Creative Taste of Home

A Sushi Surprise in Space

Sushi Space: Life on the International Space Station (ISS) is exciting but also very different from life on Earth. Astronauts float instead of walk, sleep in sleeping bags strapped to the wall, and eat food from pouches. But even in space, they sometimes miss their favorite foods.

Recently, a fun and heartwarming moment happened on the ISS. When one astronaut said they were craving sushi, the crew worked together to create their own version of it — called “space sushi.” It wasn’t perfect, but it brought smiles, laughter, and a little piece of home to the orbiting lab.

Where the Idea Came From?

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim shared the story on X (formerly Twitter). He explained that during a crew celebration, one of the astronauts said they really missed sushi. Kim agreed, saying he also missed it a lot. So, the crew got creative and tried to make their own version using whatever ingredients they had on board.

“Space sushi isn’t quite the same as the fresh stuff on the ground, but it’s not bad!” Kim posted.

What Was in the Space Sushi?

Making real sushi in space is impossible. There’s no fresh fish, seaweed, or sushi chefs up there. But the astronauts made do with what they had in their personal food supplies.

Here’s what they used:

• Rice – easy to store and heat

• Spam – a canned meat often included in space meals

• Canned fish – for that sushi-like feel

• Gochujang – a Korean chili paste for flavor

• Wasabi – to add some spice

This version of sushi wasn’t rolled with seaweed or served with soy sauce, but it gave the crew a sense of comfort and fun.

How Do Astronauts Eat in Space?

Eating in space isn’t like eating at your dining table. Because there’s no gravity, food, drinks, and even utensils can float away. That’s why astronauts have to use clever tricks to eat properly.

One smart trick they used during the sushi-making was the “sticky-tape table.” They placed tape with the sticky side up on the table. This helped keep the food and utensils in place while they prepared and ate the sushi. Without it, the rice or spam could have floated across the room!

This simple hack showed how astronauts solve everyday problems in clever ways while living in space.

A Big Hit on Social Media

Jonny Kim’s post about space sushi quickly caught people’s attention online. Thousands of users liked, shared, and commented on the story.

Here are some of the fun responses:

“Your space sushi party sounds like a blast, and that sticky-tape table hack is genius!” – @Skythelimit4545
“Love sushi too! You guys are the real stars of humanity.” – @terranea45

Many people were amazed at how astronauts make ordinary moments feel special, even in space. Some even joked that they wanted to become astronauts just to try space sushi!

Why It Matters?

This story is more than just a funny moment in space. It shows something very important — even in high-tech missions, astronauts are still human beings. They miss their favorite foods, celebrate together, and look for ways to feel happy and connected.

Shared meals like this:

• Help boost mental health

• Create a sense of teamwork

• Make life in space feel more normal

These small moments are important for long missions, especially when astronauts are far from Earth for many months.