Coffee Cup for astronauts

Among the many benefits of civilization that are not available to astronauts, the most popular request is a good Cup of coffee. But people wait hovering above the earth at an altitude of 435 km, will end soon. In November, the Italian astronaut prepares to lead the ISSpresso machine to the space crew.

Samantha Cristoforetti will be not only the first Italian woman to travel to space, but also the first astronaut in history to drink an authentic espresso in orbit.Coffee company Lavazza, in conjunction with the engineering firm and specialists Argotec and ISA built a coffee maker that members of the ISS tried Italian espresso.

It is called ISSpresso and is the first coffee maker that is able to work in space, where the principles that regulate the fluid dynamics of liquids and mixtures are very different from earth.





The prototype is currently being tested. Coffee machine uses the "capsule system" to fill the plastic bags with an espresso and other hot drinks. The machine can also be used to moisturize food.

To handle liquids at high pressure and high temperature in the space environment, the plastic pipe inside a regular coffee pot was replaced with steel to withstand a pressure of over 400 bar. ISSpresso machine uses a standard coffee capsule, which is placed in the upper part of the machine. Water is extracted by pressure in a unique electrical system and is then heated.

The granules are mixed with hot water, and the coffee is piped into a pouch that is securely attached to the car. Astronauts can drink coffee straight from the bag using the straw. The creators of the space, coffee machines say that an expensive technological project will not only expand the menu of astronauts, but will also help to improve the understanding of the principles of fluid dynamics in microgravity.

Source: nauka24news.ru/