The International Space Station is getting a brand new perk. Literally.
Guess what its gonna to get. Its first coffee machine! How the heck did they go this long without that morning java?
NBC reports the capsule-based espresso machine, creatively dubbed the ISSpresso, will finally give astronauts a better alternative to the instant coffee theyve been drinking on board the space station for the past 13 years.
The vice president of Lavazza, the coffee retailer that helped create the ISSpresso, said in a statement,“We have been thinking about taking espresso into space for some time. Today we are in a position to overcome the limits of weightlessness and enjoy a good espresso on board the International Space Station.”
The first prototype of the ISSpresso was actually built last year, and the current model is reportedly undergoing some rigorous testing to make sure its ready for space travel. The cosmic coffee machine apparently contains so many backup and safety systems, it actually weighs about 44 pounds! Talk about a heavy brew.
The ISSpresso should be ready to go just in time for the November launch of European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. Shell be the first Italian woman to go to space.
And she seems pretty pumped to enjoy a real Italian espresso while in orbit. Christoforetti said on Twitter, “How cool is that? Ill get to operate the first space espresso machine!”
According to Digital Trends, the machine will be placed in a new “corner café” on the ISS, which is apparently a designated place for socializing while on board.
Perhaps Starbucks will be opening a branch in space sometime soon? The astronauts can only hope.
國際空間站很快就會有全新的咖啡福利了,千真萬確。
猜猜那是什么?空間站史上的首臺咖啡機!這種在早上喝不到咖啡的日子,他們怎么能堅持那么久呢?
據美國全國廣播公司(NBC)報道,這臺以密封囊為主的特濃咖啡機被極富創意地命名為“ISS特濃”,它將為宇航員提供更好的咖啡替代品——過去13年來,他們在太空站里一直只能喝到即溶咖啡。
協力制造“ISS特濃”的咖啡零售商樂維薩公司副總裁在一份聲明中表示:“好一段時間以來,我們一直在思考如何將特濃咖啡送上太空。今天我們終于可以克服失重狀態的影響,在國際空間站里享用一杯美妙的特濃了?!?/p>
首臺“ISS特濃”樣機實際上在去年就已經完成了。據稱,目前的樣機正在接受嚴格測試,確保其為太空旅行做好準備。這臺宇宙咖啡機顯然包含了多個后備系統以及安全裝置,竟然重達44磅(約19.96千克)!還真是一杯“特濃”啊。
歐洲航天局宇航員薩曼莎·克里斯托弗雷蒂將是史上第一位遨游太空的意大利女性,她將于11月升空;屆時“ISS特濃”也將一切就緒。
克里斯托弗雷蒂似乎因為能在軌道上也能享受到真正的意大利特濃而興奮難抑。她在推特上說:“這實在太棒了!我還能操作第一臺太空特濃咖啡機!”
據數碼趨勢網報道,這臺咖啡機將設在國際空間站內一家全新的“拐角咖啡館”中——這里顯然是站內專門開辟的社交場所。
或許星巴克在不久的將來也會在太空開一家分店?宇航員們只能翹首以待了。
新聞詞匯加油站 與空間站相關的詞匯
運行篇
orbit 軌道
low Earth orbit 近地軌道
Milky Way 銀河系
outer space 外太空
International Space Station 國際空間站
space physics exploration 空間物理探測
multi-manned and multi-day spaceflight
多人多天太空飛行
航天篇
astronaut 航天員
space suit 航天服
space shuttle 航天飛機
manned spaceship/spacecraft載人飛船
unmanned spaceship/spacecraft 無人飛船
carrier rocket 運載火箭
multistage rocket 多級火箭
launch pad 發射臺
設備篇
antenna 天線
hatch 艙口
ladder 扶梯
solar panel 太陽能電池板
space elevator 太空升降艙
space food 太空食物
capsule 太空艙
command module 指令艙
propelling module 推進艙
orbital module 軌道艙
re-entry module 返回艙
service module服務艙
life support system 生命維持系統