Taco Bell offers 'food for all' if Mir hits target

Fast food giant Taco Bell is offering everyone in the US a free snack if the Mir space station splashes down on its giant floating target.

The company will put the 40sq ft bull's-eye in the South Pacific just before Mir is due to crash on Friday.

If the core of the space station hits the company's bell logo, everyone in the US will be entitled to claim a free taco.

The target bears the words "Free taco here" and Taco Bell has even bought an insurance policy to cover the cost of the offer.

Chris Becker, vice president of brand communications at the company, promised: "If Mir rings our bell, we will offer a free taco to everyone in the US."

Mir controllers in Moscow say they have run thousands of simulations to make sure the 143-ton decommissioned Mir station crashes in a designated "safe area" of the Pacific.