Equipment to be used for space experiments by the nation's first astronaut has passed final inspection.

The equipment to be used by astronaut Yi Soyeon at the International Space Station will go with her when she boards the Russian Soyuz spacecraft on April eighth.

The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute said Monday that 18 pieces of equipment will be sent into space. The equipment was
approved by the institute that oversaw development of Soyuz and the space station.

The equipment passed various tests including electromagnetic wave and space environment testing from last October to December. Safety and electrical tests rounded out the certification process this year.

The certified equipment includes experimental devices such as a scale designed for low-gravity environments and a device used to observe genetic mutations in fruit flies.

Ms. Yi will also conduct experiments using equipment sent to the space station in early February.