All systems go for SKorea's space-ready kimchi

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2008

SEOUL (AFP) — A specially engineered version of kimchi, South Korea's beloved pickle dish, has been cleared for a historic space mission this year, officials said Wednesday.

The bacteria-free kimchi, developed by top Korean scientists, will blast off along with the country's first astronaut after being approved by Russian space authorities, they said.

Instant noodles, cinnamon tea and uncooked organic food, all developed by the state-run food research body, have also been approved for the mission due in April.

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute said kimchi usually contains lactic acid bacteria for fermentation, but bacteria have been shown to become more virulent in space.

"The lactic acid bacterium in kimchi is a useful microbe normally, but...