Lattes...in...spaaaaaace!
October 3, 2014 6:33 AM Subscribe
SPACE.com has reported that a prototype of the ISSpresso, an espresso machine heading to the International Space Station (ISS) next year, was recently displayed at the 65th International Astronautical Congress 2014.
A joint Argotec-Lavazza-Agenzia Spaziale Italiana project, ISSPresso was already underway last year when Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano (previously) said in an interview that the thing he missed most in space was a good Italian espresso.
This is only the latest in a series of space coffee innovations. Disappointed with the instant coffee abord the ISS, Costa Rican-American astronaut Franklin Chang DÌaz enlisted the aid of two students at the Technological Institute of Costa Rica to design and build a prototype of the Coffee Infuser.
Of course you need a cup for your coffee. Based on his work with the Capillary Flow Experiment (no audio, sorry) on-board the ISS, American astronaut Don Pettit created a surface tension coffee cup using a a piece of plastic ripped from his Flight Data File mission book. Pettit shares the patent on the Zero-G coffee cup.
A joint Argotec-Lavazza-Agenzia Spaziale Italiana project, ISSPresso was already underway last year when Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano (previously) said in an interview that the thing he missed most in space was a good Italian espresso.
This is only the latest in a series of space coffee innovations. Disappointed with the instant coffee abord the ISS, Costa Rican-American astronaut Franklin Chang DÌaz enlisted the aid of two students at the Technological Institute of Costa Rica to design and build a prototype of the Coffee Infuser.
Of course you need a cup for your coffee. Based on his work with the Capillary Flow Experiment (no audio, sorry) on-board the ISS, American astronaut Don Pettit created a surface tension coffee cup using a a piece of plastic ripped from his Flight Data File mission book. Pettit shares the patent on the Zero-G coffee cup.
His wife and two daughters must feel very special.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:58 AM on October 3, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:58 AM on October 3, 2014 [3 favorites]
Well that takes care of the last thing holding up making a reservation for my space tourism excursion. (unfortunately the first 20 million 'things' are still on hold).
posted by sammyo at 7:07 AM on October 3, 2014
posted by sammyo at 7:07 AM on October 3, 2014
Ohhh finally, the last technical hurdle in space exploration has been surpassed.
posted by incolorinred at 7:10 AM on October 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by incolorinred at 7:10 AM on October 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
Huzzah! The natural superiority of espresso over drip-filter is demonstrated. Spacily.
posted by pompomtom at 7:30 AM on October 3, 2014
posted by pompomtom at 7:30 AM on October 3, 2014
I was kind of hoping for something like Gale's coffee maker from Breaking Bad.
posted by George_Spiggott at 7:31 AM on October 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by George_Spiggott at 7:31 AM on October 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
More discussion of capillary flow and espresso here. And yes, that's Don Pettit's actual garage.
posted by zap rowsdower at 8:22 AM on October 3, 2014
posted by zap rowsdower at 8:22 AM on October 3, 2014
His wife and two daughters must feel very special.
In his defense, you can't skype an espresso.
posted by like_a_friend at 8:27 AM on October 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
In his defense, you can't skype an espresso.
posted by like_a_friend at 8:27 AM on October 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
with this development we are now one step closer to the pumpkin - space - latte
this has been a comment, online
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 9:26 AM on October 3, 2014 [3 favorites]
this has been a comment, online
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 9:26 AM on October 3, 2014 [3 favorites]
I knew it wouldn't but I really hoped it would look like the machine Paulie Walnuts gave Tony Soprano.
posted by Zonker at 5:09 PM on October 3, 2014
posted by Zonker at 5:09 PM on October 3, 2014
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posted by poffin boffin at 6:39 AM on October 3, 2014 [3 favorites]