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Space Coffee, Just the Way You Like It

Posted by samzenpus on from the good-to-the-last-floating-drop dept.

Zothecula writes "Since the early days of space travel, a consistent complaint has been lousy coffee. Now a group of freshman engineering students at Rice University have developed a simple approach to alleviating this problem. From the article: 'The challenge was to develop a method and equipment that allows astronauts to add liquid ingredients (cream, sweetener, and lemon juice) from a foil package to another that contains black coffee or tea. No spills in microgravity can be allowed, as these have a tendency to migrate into equipment and cause faults. The Rice freshmen designed their system around the existing black coffee pouches. NASA supplied them two-ply heat sealed pouches to hold the sugar syrup and cream. The beverage and condiment pouches all have a septum which allows access to their contents without allowing any of the liquid contents to escape.'"

5 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. I think I can spot the problem... by madmarcel · · Score: 5, Funny

    You put the Americans in charge of coffee?? I think I can spot the problem...

    1. Re:I think I can spot the problem... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Putting Americans in charge of coffee? That's like putting the English in charge of tea.

  2. The Russians used a pencil! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Colonies built on the moon: 0
    Hours spent designing perfect zero-g latte: 1000+
    Human race == fucked

    1. Re:The Russians used a pencil! by multiben · · Score: 3, Funny

      I hope you're not a programmer.

  3. Re:just educate the astronauts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yes exactly! I've been arguing this for years. And it's not just coffee either. Every food should be eaten either in it's pure unmixed form, or not at all. Salt and ketchup on your fries? Guess you don't really like fries. Lemon aid? Why bother with the sugar, just drink lemon juice. Think you like salad? Not if you put dressing on it.