Better latté then never for space station
Italian astronaut snags espresso machine sent up with supply ship
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. — The SpaceX supply ship arrived at the International Space Station on Friday morning, delivering the world’s first espresso machine designed exclusively for astronauts.
Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti captured the Dragon capsule, which arrived three days after its Florida launch, with the help of a giant robot arm. The cargo carrier holds more than 1,800 kilograms of groceries, experiments and equipment.
Italy provided the espresso maker for Cristoforetti, who has been stuck with instant coffee since her mission began in November.
“It’s been just amazing,” Cristoforetti said after snaring the Dragon. “Lots of science and even coffee’s in there, so that’s pretty exciting.”
The espresso machine is three months late because of the backlog created by last year’s loss of a supply ship in a launch explosion. Much later and the espresso machine would have missed Cristoforetti, who returns home next month. She says she can’t wait to try some space espresso.
The Dragon will remain at the orbiting lab until around May 21, when it will be released full of experiments and discarded equipment for return to Earth. It’s the only supply ship capable of bringing items back.
Among the newly arrived research are experiments for American astronaut Scott Kelly, who is just a few weeks into a one-year mission, which will be a record for NASA.
SpaceX, meanwhile, released a video showing its first-stage booster landing on an ocean platform shortly after Tuesday’s liftoff, then tipping over in flames. It was the California company’s third attempt to fly a booster rocket to the platform stationed off Florida’s northeastern coast.
SpaceX chief Elon Musk said the platform — dubbed “Just Read the Instructions” — received minor damage.