Chocolate dessert orbits Earth

Rachel's Brownies met the Milky Way early yesterday morning when the chocolate treats that commonly line the shelves of commissaries and convenience stores orbited into space with the Space Shuttle Endeavor. The four dozen brownies were specifically requested by NASA astronaut Mario Runko for his fresh food locker, the storage space in which astronauts keep a favorite food from home. Jeffrey Slater, marketing manager for Rachel's Brownies and a 1975 College alumnus, said that while NASA does not endorse Rachel's Brownies, the "out of this world" adventure can only boost sales. Runko, a two-time NASA shuttle crew member, first experienced a Double Chocolate Walnut Rachel's Brownie on a commercial airline flight, said Slater. Slater said that Rachel's Brownies are distributed on US Air and United Airlines flights. The company's cookies, fruit bars and crackers are also distributed on these airlines. Rachel Borish, Slater's wife, started the company in 1975 and sold it to Goodmark Foods, Inc. in 1989. The brownies are baked in nearby Blandon, Pa. While not munching Rachel's Brownies during the five day space journey, Runko and five other NASA crew members will conduct research and experiments, NASA spokesperson Kelly Humphries said. The crew members of the Endeavor, which launched at approximately 9:30 a.m., will track a data relay satellite, measure matter between stars and perform educational, material and physiological experiments. Slater said Rachel's Brownies was delighted to accomodate Runko's request and added that they sent extra brownies for Runko to share with other crew members. "Maybe," Slater said hopefully, "this will become a new kind of diet."