Here’s the story of how an astronaut created a burger that’s beyond this planet.

      Jonny Kim savoring his burger.

      You might think it's challenging to put together a meal with whatever you have in your kitchen, but imagine how much more difficult that is in space. A NASA astronaut recently demonstrated his cooking skills by sharing his recipe for a makeshift "ranger burger" made from ingredients available on the International Space Station (ISS).

      Jonny Kim, a NASA astronaut who has been aboard the space station since last month, decided to satisfy his burger craving by using the improvisational skills he honed as a former Navy SEAL. Drawing a parallel to the resourcefulness of many service members faced with less-than-appetizing Meals Ready to Eat (MRE), he got creative in his culinary endeavors.

      “If you’ve lived on MREs, you’ve likely tried some inventive field recipes,” Kim posted on X. “Here’s a twist on the ranger burger, which is one of my favorites: beef steak, wheat snack bread, cheese spread as both a topping and adhesive, layers of potatoes au gratin in the middle, and a generous dollop of gochujang red pepper paste from a care package on the SpX-32 Cargo Dragon.”

      Kim's space burger. NASA / Jonny Kim

      Kim also shared a picture of himself enjoying his creation, giving a special mention to the gochujang Korean chili paste, which has surged in popularity globally. Because the pre-packaged food that astronauts typically consume can be rather bland, and since space travel can alter some people's taste perceptions, condiments and spicy sauces have become highly sought-after items among space crews. Astronauts often rave about items like ketchup, Tabasco, and now gochujang.

      Addressing the challenge of providing astronauts with tasty food is a significant concern and has been the focus of much research over the past few decades. In earlier space missions, food was often described as barely edible, and a smuggled corned beef sandwich even led to a serious clash between NASA and Congress in the 1960s.

      Currently, there is a focus on supplying astronauts with fresh foods whenever feasible, as well as sending items like fresh fruit, cheese, and gummy candies on cargo resupply missions. Offering appealing and flavorful food is believed to benefit not only astronauts' physical health but also their mental well-being.

      As for Kim, he mentioned that he misses certain aspects of life on Earth, but he still appreciates his burger: “I miss cooking for my family, but this satisfies my cravings in its own way.”