Instant Noodles for Astronauts April 16, 2002 9:17 am EST TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Nissin Food Products Co is determined to develop the ultimate fast food for hungry astronauts -- space-safe instant noodles. A team of 10 experts from Japan's biggest instant noodle manufacturer will develop a cup and other means of preventing noodles from flying in different directions when confronted with zero gravity, the Osaka-based food company said. Nissin hopes to have the noodles ready in time for the launch of Japan's work to connect a research structure to the International Space Station now being built by 15 countries. "We will develop the ultimate instant noodle product," Kyodo news agency quoted a Nissin official as saying. Instant noodles require the hungry consumer just to add boiling water to noodles and spices in a polystyrene cup.