Astronaut on ISS receives 'space cake' to mark 300 days in orbit

• The cake marked Jessica Meir's 300th day in space and the 100th day for Jack Hathaway and Sophie Adenot.
• Due to limited baking supplies, the crew had to be creative in making the confection.
• The International Space Station has hosted more than 290 astronauts from 26 countries for over 25 years.

Astronauts on the International Space Station are usually immersed in groundbreaking science experiments or witnessing breathtaking cosmic sights – not showcasing their skills in the culinary arts.

But to mark a few recent milestones, some of the spacefarers aboard the orbital outpost temporarily hung up their spacesuits and instead donned their aprons.

And what better way to celebrate your colleagues than by baking them a cake?

Of course, the ISS is hardly outfitted as a state-of-the-art bakery, so the crew had to get a little creative in concocting what one of the astronauts dubbed a "space cake."

What is the International Space Station?

The International Space Station has been stationed in low-Earth orbit for more than 25 years, typically about 260 miles high, where it has been home to astronauts from all over the world. Throughout its lifespan, the station has served as a test bed for scientific research in microgravity and has in years past opened itself up to private commercial missions.

The orbital laboratory is operated through a global partnership of space agencies, including NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.

More than 290 spacefarers from 26 countries have visited the International Space Station, including 170 from the United States alone, according to NASA.

NASA astronauts make 'space cake' to mark milestone on ISS

Astronauts on the space station recently baked a dessert that NASA's Jessica Meir referred to in posts on social media as a "space cake."

Because baking supplies on the ISS are limited, Meir described the process of making the cake as "an art, requiring creativity and resourcefulness." She further credited the Russian cosmonauts aboard the orbital outpost for the creative confection, which they made to mark Meir's milestone 300th day in space since she made her first trip in 2020.

The space cake may have displayed the number 300, but Meir added that it was also meant to celebrate NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway and French astronaut Sophie Adenot, who each recently reached their 100th days in space – all on their first spaceflight.

While the cake appears to resemble a giant Rice Krispies treat, Meir did not share information about the ingredients or the process used to make the dessert. The USA TODAY Network left a message June 1 with NASA seeking more details.

What astronauts are on the International Space Station?

Seven astronauts who are part of Expedition 74 are living and working aboard the International Space Station.

That includes four people who are part of the Crew-12 mission that docked in mid-February: NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, as well as the European Space Agency's Sophie Adenot and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The Crew-12 contingent are due to depart in September following the arrival of Crew-13.

NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Russians Sergey Mikaev and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, who arrived at the end of November on a Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft, will also be at the orbital laboratory until their replacements arrive in July.

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]