Kimchi and instant noodles for astronauts

Earlier this week, the Korea Nuclear Energy Research Institute announced that it had received a certificate from the Russian Science Center recognizing the four foods of the Korea Food Research Institute to qualify for the pilots. on the International Space Station (ISS).

So Ko San, Korea's first astronaut, will be eating kimchi, bean soup, rice and instant noodles during the main meals. Besides, he is also dessert with ginseng tea or cinnamon tea.

Korean food provided to astronaut Ko San in April flight: canned kimchi, instant noodles, rice, dry pay and cinnamon tea (Photo: TTO)

Initially scientists tried to pack kimchi in vacuum bags, but eventually they placed them in a metal box because the Russian Space Agency feared kimchi could ferment in the space that broke the bag. contained and dangerous because no one can predict whether anaerobic bacteria in kimchi are safe or not.

Ko San is a 30-year-old computer scientist who will fly to ISS in April on Russian Soyuz boosters. He will stay on this space station for 7 to 8 days to perform various scientific experiments.

With certification from the Russian Science Center, Korea became the first country outside Russia and the US to provide food for astronauts.

Currently there are 157 certified food items for astronauts. These foods use radiation to sterilize, can keep the taste better than the heat sterilization method. The requirement for space food is to be light, carefully packed, easy to manipulate, fast and convenient to eat and drink. Most of the space food is now covered with plastic bags or placed in pipes to avoid spillage when used in enclosed spaces.

TRUONG THINH