THAIS RUSSOMANO   SPACE DOCTOR
  • Home
    • About Thais
    • Why space?
  • Research
  • Blog
  • Media
  • InnovaSpace
  • Contact

Sometimes I like a hotdog but . . . . . . .

19/5/2010

0 Comments

 
Picture
Those of you who know me will also know that I travel a lot, and as such, I have tasted many different dishes from around the world.  I like to keep an open mind and at least try something once – but there are limits!

This week saw the autobiography launch of China’s first astronaut in Space Yang Liwei, a military pilot who commanded the Shenzhou Five mission in 2003 – and with it comes the revelation that the on-board menu for Chinese astronauts includes dog meat!

This ‘delicacy’ has long been eaten by the Chinese, with the best dog meat reportedly coming from Huajiang County in Guangdong where it is famed for its nutritional benefits. The menu, including braised chicken, steamed fish and the dog meat is part of a special diet drawn up by Chinese nutritionists to keep up the strength of their astronauts as they orbit the Earth.

Needless to say dog meat is not something that will be found as the ‘Dish of the day’ on board the International Space Station (ISS) where the astronauts eat more or less the same food as they would on Earth.  Some foods, fruits for example are eaten in their natural form, while other foods require adding water, such as macaroni & cheese or spaghetti. Astronauts have access to an oven for heating food but there are no refrigerators in space so food must be preserved and stored well to avoid spoilage.

Some foods are also best avoided on the ISS due to the microgravity environment. Condiments like salt or pepper are only available in liquid form because sprinkling them contaminates the atmosphere as the particles float away, and thus present hazards such as getting in astronaut’s eyes or inhalation, or even blocking air vents. Likewise bread presents problems due to the crumbs.

Whether you fancy eating dog meat or not I guess is just a matter of location and cultural upbringing - who is to say what is right or what is wrong?

For now though I think I will stick to cuddling dogs rather than barbecuing them!

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    VISIT INNOVASPACE FOR THE LATEST BLOG PAGES

    Space Doctor

    Scientist, researcher and author - but above all just a human being with a natural interest in and curiosity about life!

    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2020
    December 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    March 2016
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

© 2009 - 2020  Thais Russomano - All Rights Reserved