Venturing into space provides an immensely thrilling journey, but life on the International Space Station (ISS) comes with its own set of hurdles. Even the simplest tasks, like enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning, transform into intricate endeavours in the microgravity setting.
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How Do Astronauts Drink Coffee In Space?
Astronauts depend on straws and specially crafted drinking bags because fluids typically float in a weightless environment.
Recently, the European Space Agency (ESA) posted a video on X (formerly Twitter), providing a sneak peek into an astronaut‘s procedure for making and enjoying a cup of coffee on the ISS (International Space Station).
Twitter
In the video, astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti starts by transferring coffee from a packet into a small container. Nevertheless, her attempt to take a sip encounters obvious difficulties, as the liquid behaves differently than it does on Earth and refuses to jimmy out of the container.
After that, she changes to a special cup, pours the coffee into it easily, and drinks it without any problems. The video shows text on the screen that calls this unique cup a ‘space cup.’
The video was shared on the official Twitter page of ESA with the caption, “Our astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti demonstrates how she has her morning coffee in space!” This post came out at the same time as the worldwide celebration of International Coffee Day on October 1st, emphasising the significance of this beloved drink even in space.
What Did The Internet Say About The Special Cup?
Twitter
Folks on the internet were fascinated by the cup. One simply exclaimed, “That’s really cool.” While another thought the cup was unnecessary, “I would just drink the bag. Just sayin.”
One user mused, “The main reason why cups were invented would have been gravity itself!” Another understood the need to invent the cup, “I couldn’t live without coffee.”
Who Invented The Space Cup?
Wikimedia Commons
The Capillary Cup is a cup created by NASA astronaut Donald Pettit during his time on the International Space Station. This unique cup is intended for use in microgravity and allows open drinking, satisfying Pettit’s wish to enjoy water in space without the need for a bag and straw.
The cup started as a set of simple experiments driven by Pettit’s curiosity about how liquids behave in space. NASA later funded and examined the project, and the findings were published in several research papers.
It’s a perfect illustration of the blend of design, science, and engineering. It enables crews to drink and raise a toast using an open container, much like we do on Earth. Interestingly, the porcelain-ceramic version of the cup is the first patented product invented in orbit.
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