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A few years back, we reported that Korean food such as kimchi, gochujang, and Ginseng will be brought to space.
Today, we bring news that these food will be making a trip with the Russian Space Craft Soyuz to the International Space Station.
It took three top government research institutes, millions of dollars, and several years for scientists to perfect a version of kimchi that won't become dangerous when exposed to harsh elements in space, may it be cosmic rays or forms of radiation.
Since kimchi is filled with microbes such as the lactic acid bacteria which helps its fermentation, scientists feared that these microbes could become a hazard if rays and radiations would cause it to mutate.
Lee Ju-woon from the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute worked on this project as early as 2003 and said, "The key was how to make a bacteria-free kimchi while retaining its unique taste, color and texture.”
This feat has allowed Korean Astronaut Ko San to bring the food to space when he launches on April 8, 2008. Four days after their departure, Ko plans to hold a Korean dinner on April 12 to honor Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space.
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