Seaweed has a long history as a food resource and popular food ingredient in Korea. In particular, miyeok (Undaria pinnatifida) is often served in soup, salad, and side dishes ( Kim, 2010).
The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute has used irradiation technology to develop Korean traditional foods, such as kimchi, as space foods ( Song et al., 2009a). Irradiation technology has been considered as an effective sterilization method to extend the shelf-life of space foods, without compromising their nutritional properties ( Farkas, 2006). Safety and taste of space food are important considerations for astronauts; therefore, space food should meet rigid microbial specifications ( Bourland, 1993). The microbiological requirements for space foods used by the Russian Institute of Bio-medical Problems (IBMP), which is a unique institute that certifies space foods for use on the International Space Station, are shown in Table 1. The sensory quality of space food is also important to prevent malnutrition, because astronauts tend to avoid consuming unappetizing food ( Song et al., 2009b).