The "space food box" made by Srlon Technology. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

Recently, the Shenzhou XVIII spacecraft successfully launched with three astronauts embarking on a six-month space journey. Their daily meals are stored in food boxes made by Zhejiang Srlon Packaging Technology Company in Taizhou, Zhejiang province.

Srlon Technology, established in 2014, specializes in high-tech food packaging. It has been providing high-barrier food containers for astronauts since the Shenzhou XII.

Chen Huaqing, the company's president, said, "The product needs to meet all the requirements in terms of capacity and food quality, and be able to withstand extreme physical vibration. The research and development was actually much more difficult than we imagined."

The "space food box" is composed of five layers, including a heat sealing layer and a barrier layer, which not only provides pressure resistance, but also serves to extend the storage time of food without adding preservatives.

Eating instant noodles was a challenge in space because it is difficult to fill weightless water into containers. The specially designed box makes this possible. "We added a one-way water inlet hole on the side of the box, ensuring that only air comes out," explained Chen.

By holding multiple patents and collaborating with well-known brands, the company is striving to expand its market and increase revenue. "We also hope that the proportion of food using this preservation technology can reach more than 50 percent in the domestic market," said Chen.