Whiskey delivered to International Space Station for science

By MARCIA DUNN
AP Aerospace Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Spirits have arrived at the International Space Station.

Not the ghostly ones, but the kind you drink — distilled spirits.

A Japanese company known for its whiskey and other alcoholic beverages included five types of distilled spirits in the cargo ship that arrived at the space station Monday. The station’s big robotic arm – operated by Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui – grabbed onto the supply craft launched Wednesday by his homeland. Flight controllers anchored it down.

The supply ship contains nearly 10,000 pounds of cargo, including the six liquor samples. Suntory Global Innovation Center in Tokyo wants to see if alcoholic beverages mellow the same in space as they do on Earth.

A NASA spokesman says all research flown to the space station is agreed upon by everyone involved.

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