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Why this ISSpresso machine was developed and sent into orbit at all? What scientific outcome does it have? Why was it necessary spending taxpayer's money develo

Why this ISSpresso machine was developed and sent into orbit at all? What scientific outcome does it have? Why was it necessary spending taxpayer's money developing it?

spencer-p 6mo ago
Astronauts can spend many months on the ISS, and it’s very important they don’t become irritable and kill one another before the research is complete.
- danparsonson 6mo ago
  Also it's really hard to get up in the morning when the days are so short
elromulous 6mo ago
Are you sure Lavazza didn't eat the cost? It's great marketing material for them. This could be similar to the fisher space pen. There's a common urban legend that NASA spent millions developing the space pen, while the soviets simply used pencils. Fisher actually paid for the development of the space pen. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writing_in_space https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writing_in_space
- Leonard_of_Q 6mo ago
  As long as Lavazza also sponsors the launch costs for the coffee cartridges which come in at ~100 times the weight of the free-dried alternative used in lieu of this contraption. Next up: - the Russians will launch a new module containing a rye farm and a distillery 'cause cosmonauts can't be expected to drink pre-bagged vodka. - The Americans, not to be outdone launch a ring-shaped module containing a stretch of prairie where cattle roam 'cause damn'it we'll have our grass-fed beef whether we're in space or not. - When the Indians finally get their module attached it will turn out to be somewhat reminiscent of the American one with the addition of a ghee factory - the Japanese module is full of water and fish and space-sea-weed with a small compartment for the sushi chef - the Chinese module is filled with earth and eggs behind doors bearing labels telling the crew when the required 1000 years have been reached - the Dutch turn up with a giant solar wind mill - ...
spockz 6mo ago
Because, Espresso is a life elixer? But seriously. As the article says, there are other needs for having high pressure hot water. The learnings from this can be used elsewhere. As the siblings said, it can also have been paid for by Lavazza. Aside of the marketing value now, imagine securing the right/first mover advantage to make all coffee makers into the foreseeable future? Speaking of barrier to entry. ;-)
_ink_ 6mo ago
The article assumes single digit million as cost. That is a drop in the water when it comes to cost of running ISS. Additionally the technical paper claims psychological benefits for humans to have something familiar in a harsh and unfamiliar environment. Which will also come in handy for when humans travel beyond LEO.
vrganj 6mo ago
To quote the official paper: > The food system for long-duration space missions not only provides nutrition to the crew, but it also provides a form of psychological support by providing a familiar element in an unfamiliar and hostile environment
felixg3 6mo ago
The morale boost of freshly brewed coffee for scientists would be immeasurable by even monetary instruments.

Why this ISSpresso machine was developed and sent into orbit at all? What scientific outcome does it have? Why was it necessary spending taxpayer's money developing it?

spencer-p 6mo ago

Astronauts can spend many months on the ISS, and it’s very important they don’t become irritable and kill one another before the research is complete.

danparsonson 6mo ago
Also it's really hard to get up in the morning when the days are so short

elromulous 6mo ago

Are you sure Lavazza didn't eat the cost? It's great marketing material for them. This could be similar to the fisher space pen. There's a common urban legend that NASA spent millions developing the space pen, while the soviets simply used pencils. Fisher actually paid for the development of the space pen. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writing_in_space https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writing_in_space

Leonard_of_Q 6mo ago
As long as Lavazza also sponsors the launch costs for the coffee cartridges which come in at ~100 times the weight of the free-dried alternative used in lieu of this contraption. Next up: - the Russians will launch a new module containing a rye farm and a distillery 'cause cosmonauts can't be expected to drink pre-bagged vodka. - The Americans, not to be outdone launch a ring-shaped module containing a stretch of prairie where cattle roam 'cause damn'it we'll have our grass-fed beef whether we're in space or not. - When the Indians finally get their module attached it will turn out to be somewhat reminiscent of the American one with the addition of a ghee factory - the Japanese module is full of water and fish and space-sea-weed with a small compartment for the sushi chef - the Chinese module is filled with earth and eggs behind doors bearing labels telling the crew when the required 1000 years have been reached - the Dutch turn up with a giant solar wind mill - ...

spockz 6mo ago

Because, Espresso is a life elixer? But seriously. As the article says, there are other needs for having high pressure hot water. The learnings from this can be used elsewhere. As the siblings said, it can also have been paid for by Lavazza. Aside of the marketing value now, imagine securing the right/first mover advantage to make all coffee makers into the foreseeable future? Speaking of barrier to entry. ;-)

_ink_ 6mo ago

The article assumes single digit million as cost. That is a drop in the water when it comes to cost of running ISS. Additionally the technical paper claims psychological benefits for humans to have something familiar in a harsh and unfamiliar environment. Which will also come in handy for when humans travel beyond LEO.

vrganj 6mo ago

To quote the official paper: > The food system for long-duration space missions not only provides nutrition to the crew, but it also provides a form of psychological support by providing a familiar element in an unfamiliar and hostile environment

felixg3 6mo ago

The morale boost of freshly brewed coffee for scientists would be immeasurable by even monetary instruments.