In his new autobiography, The Nine Levels between Heaven and Earth, Yang Liwei (above), the Chinese commander of ‘03’s Shenzhou Five spacecraft, revealed some of the dining habits of highly effective astronauts:

A local proverb in the south of China is that “Huajiang dog is better for you than ginseng,” referring to the medicinal root that plays a vital role in traditional Chinese medicine.

He added that the diet had been specially drawn up for the astronauts by Chinese nutritionists and that the food had been purchased from special suppliers in Beijing.  Dog is widely eaten in northern China, where it is believed to help battle the winter cold.  The menu was still in use last year, when Chinese astronauts conducted their first ever spacewalk.  China has plans to land a man on the moon by 2020.

The revelation drew an angry rebuke from animal rights campaigners, who said Mr. Yang was setting a bad example to his millions of fans.

Intake of nutrients aside, Yang Liwei has less kind things to say about their elimination.  When asked about his experience aboard the Shenzhou Five he said, “Better not to piss in diaper…baby doesn’t like it, neither does an adult.”
 
Dog on the menu for Chinese astronauts