Cape Canaveral: The International Space Station's latest delivery includes 12 bottles of fine French wine.

Researchers prepare bottles of French red wine to be flown aboard a Northrop Grumman capsule from Wallops Island, Virginia. Credit:AP

A Luxembourg company sent up the red wine, not for the astronauts to drink but rather in the name of science.

The wine will age for a year up there before returning to Space Cargo Unlimited. Company officials say researchers will study how weightlessness and space radiation affect the ageing process. The goal is to develop new flavours and properties for the food industry.

The bottles flew up aboard a Northrop Grumman capsule that launched from Virginia on Saturday and arrived at the orbiting lab Monday. Each bottle was packed in a metal canister to prevent breakage.