A taste of space fare for earthlings

Dishes such as roast pork and stewed duck specially concocted for taikonauts -- a term for astronauts that is based on the Chinese word for space -- will be sold in supermarkets by the end of the year, the official New China News Agency said.

The Scientific Research and Training Center for Chinese Astronauts and a Shanghai-based food company have developed more than 60 dishes -- including meat, vegetables, starches and desserts -- for the country’s space program.

The space foods are tasty, and many are spicy, Sichuan-style dishes, said Chen Bin, head of the center’s nutrition branch.

“They are especially suitable for outdoor activities,” he was quoted as saying.