Belgian Astronaut Raphaël Liégeois to Bring National Dishes to Space: A Taste of Home on the ISS

Brussels, The Gulf Observer: Belgian astronaut Raphaël Liégeois will carry a culinary piece of Belgium with him during his six-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2026, selecting two traditional Belgian dishes as his “bonus food,” the European Space Agency (ESA) announced on Friday.

Departing from the days of bland food tubes, modern astronauts can now choose from more than 200 menu items during their missions. In addition, they’re allowed to bring specially curated “bonus food” that reflects their cultural heritage and personal taste. Liégeois has chosen two beloved national treasures: chicory with ham and cheese sauce (a Flemish classic), and boulets à la Liégeoise (Liège-style meatballs).

A Culinary Tribute to Unity

The chicory gratin dish, co-developed with chef Wouter Keersmaekers of De Schone van Boskoop in Boechout, uses Orval cheese, nodding to Liégeois’ family ties in the region. “Raphaël wanted something deeply authentic and nostalgic — a dish his mother loved,” said Keersmaekers.

Symbolically, the dish draws ingredients from all three Belgian regions — meat from Flanders, endive from Brussels, and cheese from Wallonia — making it a “culinary tribute to national unity and sustainability,” according to Liégeois.

For his second dish, Liégeois turned to chef Frédéric Lambert of L’Amirauté in Esneux to adapt the iconic Liège meatballs for space. The dish features a sweet-and-sour sauce made with onions, vinegar, brown sugar, and the famous Sirop de Liège (a syrup from apples and pears), although the beer and fries typically served with it are omitted for space compatibility.

“These aren’t just meatballs — they’re part of our cultural heritage,” said Lambert. “We’ve preserved the rich, velvety flavor while making the dish space-safe and alcohol-free.”

‘At Home in Space’

Liégeois, a biomedical engineer and neuroscientist, emphasized the importance of comfort and cultural identity during long missions in space. “By choosing these two dishes, I wanted to highlight local Belgian products — apples from the Pays d’Aubel, Flemish chicory, and Orval cheese. These are simple, familiar dishes that will make me feel a little more at home in space,” he said.

The meals will be canned and sent to the ISS, where they can be reheated in the onboard oven, according to Hannelise Boerjan, spokesperson for Belgium’s Federal Science Policy Office (Belspo), which supports the mission.

Science Meets Culture

In addition to his gastronomic choices, Liégeois will bring three Belgian scientific experiments to the ISS: studies involving corn, slime moulds, and a quantum sensor.

Set to launch in the second half of 2026, Liégeois will become the third Belgian astronaut in space, joining the ranks of Dirk Frimout and Frank De Winne. His mission reflects not only Belgium’s continued contribution to space exploration, but also a growing trend of celebrating cultural identity beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

A ‘Belgian Evening’ in Orbit

These bonus dishes may also be shared during a “Belgian evening” aboard the ISS, a tradition where astronauts celebrate each other’s cultures through food. For Liégeois, it will be a chance to share a taste of Belgium with his international colleagues — and with it, a sense of unity, nostalgia, and pride.