South Korea has taken the cultural icon of kimchi to new heights—literally. The country’s space program has embraced the traditional dish in a quest to provide astronauts with a taste of home while in orbit. This culinary innovation represents South Korea’s broader goals of expanding its presence in space through enhanced cooperation with global allies, specifically the United States.
The Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute faced the challenge of adapting kimchi for space travel. Concerns were raised that the dish’s natural fermentation process might cause containers to burst due to carbon dioxide buildup or that cosmic radiation could mutate its bacteria into potentially harmful forms. Their solution was to create a special version of kimchi that undergoes irradiation to kill all microorganisms, ensuring safety and preventing continued fermentation. The process also succeeded in reducing kimchi’s potent smells which could overwhelm the confined quarters of a space station.
This “space kimchi” debuted during the Soyuz rocket’s journey to the International Space Station in 2008, carrying the first South Korean astronaut, Yi So-yeon. The kimchi crafted for this mission contained no live bacteria, allowing astronauts to enjoy the dish without the risk of excessive fermentation or undesirable microbial changes. Kim Sung Soo, a scientist at the Korea Food Research Institute, succinctly put it, “If a Korean goes into space, kimchi must go there too.”
The taste and texture might not match that of its Earth-bound counterpart, but the spiciness of space kimchi was reportedly well-received by astronauts, who often find their taste buds dulled in low-gravity environments. Although not identical in flavor, it provided a much-needed reminder of home and diversity to the station’s menu.
South Korea’s journey into space has become a testament to their technological prowess and cultural pride. By marrying the adventurous spirit of space exploration with a culinary staple like kimchi, they’re not just sending a dish into orbit—they’re broadcasting their identity to the cosmos and cementing their role in the future of space exploration. As kimchi adapts to the stars, so too does South Korea adapt to the ever-expanding universe of space cooperation and scientific discovery.
Relevant articles:
– TIL Korean astronauts eat a version of kimchi that has been radiated to kill all of the microorganisms
– United States and South Korea agree to enhance space cooperation
– The Right Chemistry: Is space kimchi less healthy than its earthly counterpart?