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How To Make Espresso In Space
In a story that's sure to bring to the surface the long-debunked myth of an over-elaborate NASA quest to create a pen to operate in space, Wired reports that the coffee situation aboard the International Space Station is about to improve: the station will be getting a 20kg, custom designed Lavazza espresso machine, to be delivered along with Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. Among other differences from terrestrial espresso machines: the resulting beverage must be pumped into a straw-friendly bag rather than a demitasse. I wonder if there could be some way to adapt a (much lighter) Aeropress for space purposes, as a backup.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISS_ECLSS#Atmosphere
Normal air pressure on the ISS is 101.3 kPa (14.7 psi);[4] the same as at sea level on Earth. It would hardly do for astronauts to get the bends upon arrival at the ISS.
When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
Have you seen this barista's resume? Three degrees, journal publication, pilot's license . . . it's *really* tough finding a job nowadays.