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Caffeine High: Space station getting Italian espresso maker (Update)
phys.org ^ | Marcia Dunn

Posted on 04/13/2015 7:17:40 AM PDT by BenLurkin

The experimental espresso machine is intended for International Space Station astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti of Italy. It was supposed to arrive in January, shortly after her arrival, so she could get some relief from the station's instant coffee. But it ended up on the back burner after a station shipment from Virginia was lost in a launch explosion.

The espresso maker is dubbed ISSpresso—ISS standing for International Space Station. Italian coffee giant Lavazza joined forces with the Turin-based engineering company Argotec and the Italian Space Agency to provide a specially designed machine for use off the planet. NASA certified its safety.

NASA's space station program deputy manager, Dan Hartman, said it's all part of making astronauts feel at home as they spend months—and even up to a year—in orbit. Already, Mission Control gives astronauts full access to email, phone calls, private video hookups, and live news and sports broadcasts.

... SpaceX's billionaire founder Elon Musk wants to save time and money by reusing the boosters normally discarded in the Atlantic. In fact, the company is transforming a former missile-launching site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station into a landing pad for its revolutionary flyback boosters.

Monday's launch time is 4:33 p.m. Forecasters put the odds of good weather at 60 percent.

(Excerpt) Read more at phys.org ...


TOPICS: Travel
KEYWORDS:

This undated product image provided by Lavazza, shows a prototype of Lavazza and Argotec's "ISSpresso" machine. The final version will be the first real Italian espresso machine on The International Space Station. On Monday, April 13, 2015, a version of the coffee maker is scheduled for launch to the International Space Station aboard a supply capsule. (AP Photo/Lavazza)
1 posted on 04/13/2015 7:17:40 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

Love espresso, and especially the real thing (Italian), but had to laugh at this photo since it looks remarkably like part of the station’s human waste disposal system. Not appetizing.


2 posted on 04/13/2015 7:41:50 AM PDT by katana (Just my opinions)
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To: katana

especially when you figure how they get their water.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCjH3k5gODI


3 posted on 04/13/2015 7:48:47 AM PDT by Rio (Proud resident of the State of Jefferson)
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To: BenLurkin
Italian Girls in Space AND Fresh Espresso?

Where do I sign?

....as a genuine certified engineer, I ain't altogether sure you ain't mixed up them fotos. Please check the JPEG files on your Cray/

4 posted on 04/13/2015 7:56:24 AM PDT by Kenny Bunk
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To: BenLurkin

Should have shipped it by Amazon drone.


5 posted on 04/13/2015 8:01:27 AM PDT by bgill (CDC site, "we still do not know exactly how people are infected with Ebola")
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