Venturing into space provides an immensely exciting journey, but life on the International Space Station (ISS) comes with its own obstacles. Even the simplest tasks, like enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning, are transformed into complex tasks in the microgravity environment.
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- How do astronauts drink coffee in space?
- What did the Internet say about the Special Cup?
- Who invented the space cup?
How do astronauts drink coffee in space?
Astronauts rely on specially designed straws and drinking bags because liquids typically float in a weightless environment.
Recently, the European Space Agency (ESA) posted a video on X (formerly Twitter), offering a sneak peek of 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 begins by transferring coffee from a packet to a small container. However, her attempt to take a sip encounters obvious difficulties, as the liquid behaves differently than on Earth and refuses to leave the container.
After that, you switch to a special cup, pour the coffee into it easily and drink it without problems. The video shows text on the screen calling this unique mug a “space cup.”
The video was shared on ESA’s official Twitter page with the caption: “Our astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti demonstrates how she drinks her morning coffee in space!” This post was published at the same time as the global celebration of International Coffee Day on October 1, emphasizing the importance of this beloved beverage even in space.
How do you like your coffee?☕️Our astronaut @AstroSamantha Demonstrate how you drink your morning coffee in space! #InternationalCoffeeDay pic.twitter.com/UKA1Hy0EWW
— ESA (@esa) October 1, 2023
What did the Internet say about the Special Cup?
Twitter
People on the Internet were fascinated by the cup. One simply exclaimed: “That’s really cool.” While another thought the cup was unnecessary: “I’d just drink the bag. Just say.”
That’s really cool
— John David Hanna (@JohnDavidHanna) October 1, 2023
I would just drink the bag. Just say.
— Space Tales (PJD) (@SpaceTales) October 1, 2023
One user mused: “The main reason cups were invented would have been gravity itself!” Another understood the need to invent the cup: “I couldn’t live without coffee.”
The main reason cups were invented would have been gravity itself!
—Yuvraj (@Poeticnights1) October 2, 2023
I couldn’t live without coffee.
– Sam Gamyi (@ganyi_sam) October 1, 2023
Who invented the space cup?
Wikimedia Commons
The Capillary Cup is a cup created by NASA astronaut Donald Pettit during his stay on the International Space Station. This unique cup is designed for use in microgravity and allows for open drinking, fulfilling Pettit’s desire to enjoy water in space without the need for a bag or straw.
The cup began as a series of simple experiments driven by Pettit’s curiosity about how liquids behave in space. NASA subsequently funded and reviewed the project, and the findings were published in several research papers.
It is a perfect illustration of the combination of design, science and engineering. It allows crews to drink and toast using an open container, as we do on Earth. Interestingly, the porcelain and ceramic version of the mug is the first patented product invented in orbit.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn