China’s first man that explores outer space reveals, China astronauts eating of dog meat to maintain their strength during the orbit around the earth.

Yang Liwei, 44-year-old military pilot who commanded the mission of Shenzhou Five years in 2003, reveal the menu of a spaceship crew of China in his autobiography entitled The Nine Levels Between Heaven and Earth.

“Many of my friends wanted to know what we eat (in space) and think that the astronauts must have some expensive meals, such as shark’s fin or oysters,” he wrote, as quoted by the Telegraph, Thursday (05/13/2010).

“We eat food that is very normal. There is no obligation that (menu astronauts) into a secret,” he said.

He revealed a list of menus, including boiled chicken, steamed fish, and meat from the dog in Guangdong Huajiang renowned for its nutritional benefits in China.

A local proverb in southern China reads, “Dogs Huajiang better for you than ginseng.” Proverb that refers to the medical history plays an important role in traditional medicine of China.

He added that the menu was created specifically for the astronauts by nutritionists China. Food ingredients were purchased from specialized suppliers in Beijing. Dogs are widely eaten in northern China and is believed to have properties of meat that can help deal with bad winter.

Telegraph reported, meat menu was used last year by China’s astronauts. The country plans to land a man on the moon in 2020.

Disclosures sparked outrage defenders of animal rights who say, “What a bad example to millions of fans.” “Yang Liwei was a role model for many young people and he was one of China’s greatest heroes,” said Jill Robinson, founder of the Animals of Asia. “We hope he can learn that dogs are heroes. They (the dog) to find the survivors after the earthquake in Sichuan and protect people from potential terrorists during the Olympics. Should dogs deserve more.”

American astronauts also ate various foods, including beef enchiladas, lasagna, and sweet-sour pork in their space missions. NASA said the space food must be easily prepared and eaten, and the usually low-fat, low calorie, and not much salt.

Yang Liwei was also revealed, when the pressure take-off during the mission, Shenzhou Five was so great that he thought he would die. “All my internal organs seem to have been destroyed. I do not take it anymore and thought this could be the final mission for me,” he wrote.

When he returned to earth, he saw a crack in the window module. “That’s a lie to say I am not afraid. On the outside temperature is 1600 degrees Celsius to 1800 degrees Celsius. Later, he found a crack that is a heat-resistant layer on the line,” he said.

Here’s a menu option astronauts China (in the year 2009 mission).

First day: porridge lotus root, tofu with crispy leeks, yellow tail fish stew, pork ribs with seaweed, spinach with minced garlic.

Day two: spicy pork skin, boiled duck, crab, ginger, chicken liver with chilli, pine nuts with a sweet corn soup, three flavors.

Day three: eggs poached in a fermented rice soup, sausage Harbin, huajiang dogs, casseroles baby squid, eel with green peppers, spicy beans with tofu dry.

Apples, pears, and oranges are presented to each meal. Likewise, rice, noodles, and potatoes.