Two astronauts took off on Thursday from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to join the International Space Station. In particular, they will conduct experiments aimed at producing dairy products on site for future interplanetary missions.
On Thursday, April 20, 2017, a Soyuz rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, carrying two crew members to the ISS. They are Russian cosmonaut and captain Fiodor Yurchikhine, for whom this is the fifth space mission, and American astronaut and engineer Jack Fischer, for whom this is the first departure from Earth. Around two o’clock, they will join the Frenchman Thomas Pesquet and the Americans Peggy Whitson and Shane Kimbrough on the ISS.
The two astronauts have taken on board a rather special food package which will be used to conduct particularly interesting new experiments related to the production of dairy biotics and in particular kefir. They will guarantee better preparation for future interplanetary expeditions.
» One of the most interesting experiments is related to biotics. I am sure of the scientific importance of the results of these experiments which will ultimately be useful to cosmonauts for future expeditions, allowing them to benefit from fresh dairy products even in orbit said replacement crew chief Sergey Ryazansky during the press conference before takeoff.
Because it is not just a question of achieving a feat by producing milk or kefir, this fermented Russian drink made from milk. This is to prepare for future long manned interplanetary missions with the idea of reducing the weight of the on-board equipment while maintaining a certain autonomy.
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