Seoul: South Korea will develop six types of space food and beverages for Russia`s Mars exploration experiment.
The Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)
and the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian
Academy of Sciences (IBMP) signed a joint research agreement.
South Korea will prepare its ready-to-eat bulgogi
(barbecued beef marinated in soy source and sesame oil),
bibimbap (a mixed rice and vegetables), seaweed soup, and
kimchi, as spicy fermented vegetable side dish as well as
mulberry juice and sujeonggwa, or sweet cinnamon punch, the
Yohnap news agency reported.
Some of these dishes were tested during the docking of
South Korea`s first astronaut Yi So-Yeon with the
International Space Station. Then, South Korea received an
international certificate for producing space food, including
instant noodles and multi-grain and vegetable sticks.
The current deal outlines certification of South
Korea`s traditional foods and beverages by Russian
authorities. They will be given to cosmonaut trainees in the
MARS-500 project for 120 days. Scientists will then record the
effects they have on the immune system, which is critical for
long- term space travel, the agency said.
Bureau Report
