492130 Fri Feb 22 04:37:53 -0800 2008 7 33 Food Media and News 0 3423276 A South Korean will be become that nation's first astronaut on April 8th. There is an article from iht.com that tells how and why kimchee and some other korean food were modified for space travel: http://iht.com/articles/2008/02/22/asia/kimchi.php Some of my favorite excerpts from the article: "...it was only natural for Koreans to think that their first astronaut must have the beloved national dish when he goes on his historic space mission in April. Three top government research institutes went to work. Their mission: to create "space kimchi."" "The other space food Koreans created include the national instant noodle called ramyeon, hot pepper paste, fermented soybean soup and sticky rice." "The key was how to make a bacteria-free kimchi while retaining its unique taste, color and texture," said Lee Ju Woon at the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute, who began working on the newfangled kimchi in 2003 with samples provided by his mother. Ordinary kimchi is teeming with microbes, like lactic acid bacteria, which help fermentation. On Earth they are harmless, but scientists fear they could turn dangerous in space if cosmic rays cause them to mutate. Another problem is that kimchi has a short shelf life, especially when temperatures fluctuate rapidly, as they do in space. "Imagine if a bag of kimchi starts fermenting and bubbling out of control and bursts all over the sensitive equipment of the spaceship," Lee said. Long live Kimchee!! Fri Feb 22 04:37:53 -0800 2008 27873 gyp7318 1 3423343 " So when their government finally decided to finance Ko's trip, they wanted him well prepared for his momentous journey. Which means he must take kimchi with him." This is proof that a Korean mother is running the government! I loved the little cartoon graphic on the kimchi package of the cat astronaut. This article is awesome! I would love to try the stuff, just to see how it compares. I know little about space conditions, but I am trying to imagine clearing the kimchi smell out after dinner from that crowded little space. I can't imagine that is going to be easy. I hope the other astronauts are feeling adventurous. They may have to train the other astronauts in eating kimchi. Refusal to try the stuff may result in an international diplomatic incident... I wonder what other food was turned into space food. I am hoping some kind of squid dish. And of course bulgogi or kalbi. I am also trying to imagine how the Food Research Institute decided what to turn into space food. There must have been quite the debate. Fri Feb 22 05:24:28 -0800 2008 3423276 89969 moh 2 3426828 A korean mother running the government and before too long the International Space station! If she could find a way to go, I'm sure his mother would. Can you imagine, the smells of daeng jang, kimchee, bulgogi floating through outer space? It sounds like heaven to me! Interesting comment about the clearing of the smell of kimchee. Surely they would have considered that during the research. During college I got enough grief from my American roommates about not putting kimchee in the fridge. I can't imagine what the fellow astronauts would say! There definitely must have been quite a debate on what even tackle. The article said also created space versions of ramyun, sticky rice, fermented soybean soup, and hot pepper paste. Does that mean that daeng jang really is coming to a galaxy near you? :) Sat Feb 23 06:32:23 -0800 2008 3423343 27873 gyp7318 3 3429891 I have sent this link to my kimchi loving friends, and i has been a huge hit! Thanks so much for posting it! It must be possible to buy this stuff? Tang is the result of trying to put orange juice on the menu of astronauts, so I figure the space Kimchi will soon follow. If it is any good, it may solve the problem of transporting kimchi in a non-smelly way. Currently, that it impossible.... Sun Feb 24 11:35:19 -0800 2008 3426828 89969 moh 4 3447038 No problem! When I read it online, I laughed out loud and was so proud to be korean! I wonder if the general public will be able to buy it. I"m sure we will b/c if there's money to be made and there's a demand, they'd be crazy not to sell it! I also wonder how "non-odorous" it is. Thoughts? Fri Feb 29 09:06:07 -0800 2008 3429891 27873 gyp7318 5 3447057 well it had better not be too "non-odorous" otherwise, what is the point? If it didn't smell, it wouldn't be kimchi! They'll have to sell it. They need to get back some of the millions of research dollars! I do love a nation that is that devoted to its food. Fri Feb 29 09:10:49 -0800 2008 3447038 89969 moh 3 3447515 Think about the air up there to begin with, even with the scrubbers, filters and periodic refreshment, kimchi may actually be an improvement.... Fri Feb 29 10:56:55 -0800 2008 3426828 10784 Scrapironchef 4 3448541 So true! :) Fri Feb 29 19:03:06 -0800 2008 3447515 27873 gyp7318