Pizza delivered to International Space Station

(22 May 2001) 1. Russian cosmonaut Yuri Usachov taking pizza out of oven and approaching table 2. Close up of Usachov cutting pizza 3. Usachov eating a slice of pizza as the rest of the pie floats 4. Close up of pizza slice floating in front of the cosmonaut’s face STORYLINE: Delivery took much longer than 30 minutes, but an American fast food chain claims it has sent the first pizza to outer space. The pizza rode aboard a Russian rocket used to resupply the international space station and was eaten last month by Russian cosmonaut Yuri Usachov. Pepperoni lacked the necessary shelf life - it grew mold - so salami was used instead. Extra salt and spices were added to offset space travel’s deadening effect on the taste buds. Some U.S. astronauts have requested pizza after returning from space, but apparently none have eaten a slice during a mission. The Pizza Hut chain said it paid the Russian space agency about 1 (m