Astronauts to start 10% calorie restriction

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Space Station Astronauts Told to Ration Food

By Oxley

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Two astronauts face a not-so-merry Christmas after

being told to ration their food and hope a cargo ship with extra

supplies docks on Dec. 26.

The crew aboard the International Space Station (news - web sites)

(ISS) only has enough supplies to last a month and must wait until the

day after Western Christmas for a Russian cargo ship to deliver new

supplies, space officials said on Friday.

Russian cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov and American Leroy Chiao have been

asked to cut out calories equal to three cans of Coke from their daily

diet -- around 10 percent of their daily allowance and an amount that

would be little noticed, NASA (news - web sites) said.

Russian officials, quoted in the local media, have accused the

previous crew of overeating during their 6-month mission earlier this

year, leaving a deficit of meat and milk and a surplus of juice and

confectionery.

" They have enough food for approximately another month, after that

they won't be able to have a balanced diet, " said Russian space agency

spokesman Vyacheslav Mikhailichenko.

The Dec. 24 launch of the next Progress is now vital for the crew,

stationed in orbit since October. It is due to dock with the ISS on

Dec. 26.