Just a few months ago, popular Japanese convenience store fried chicken karaage-kun obtained approval as certified space food for those at the International Space Station. Now thanks to research collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), those aboard the ISS can look forward approved space food versions of Nissin's instant noodle products, including Cup Noodle and the appropriately named U.F.O. Yakisoba.

While the lineup will feature a number of popular instant Nissin products, one of the most fitting appears to be U.F.O. Yakisoba. The popular instant yakisoba gets its name originally from an abbreviation of Japanese (Umaku = tasty, Futoku = thick, and Okiku = big). However, the standard packaging is designed to look like a flying saucer, and it does actually say "Unidentified Flying Object" on it.

Whichever reasoning you go for, astronauts on the ISS will be able to look forward to a new type of UFO in space.

Space U.F.O. Yakisoba

Cup Noodle Soy Sauce flavor (seafood and curry flavors are also being made available)

Space Chicken Ramen

Space Hayashi Rice (Japanese hashed beef rice)

Space Keema Curry Rice

JAXA, along with Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi, have been consulting on freeze-dried types of Japanese food, particularly those looked at as comfort foods, to provide the taste of home for astronauts aboard the ISS for long periods of time to help alleviate mental stress.