Engineers are developing an espresso cup astronauts can sip in space
If eating cheese doodles in zero gravity seems messy, drinking a hot cup of espresso would seem downright painful. But that's exactly what Mark Weislogel, a professor of mechanical engineering at Portland State University, is tackling.
The espresso cup, which resembles a plastic baby boot, has a pointed corner in the center that acts as a wick, using surface tension to guide liquid toward your mouth.
These cups aren't quite ready yet. They cost a cool $500 each to 3D-print and are expected to incur another $100,000 in testing.
This coffee cup was designed to let astronauts sip espresso in space.
http://t.co/P42sUzGEB5 pic.twitter.com/aRWpSdUAXO
— WIRED Design (@Wired_Design) January 27, 2015