I don’t suppose many people think too hard about the practical difficulties of living in space.

There are obvious obstacles to overcome, but one smaller scale ( but important ) issue has been in the news of late and that relates to coffee drinking.

Astronauts may suffer from separation from friends, family and the usual proximity to their planet, but researchers want to make sure that they can console themselves with a cup of coffee, without scalding themselves.

Why is coffee drinking a problem in space?

Because liquids don’t behave in the usual fashion out there.

They don’t run and flow in the usual direction, but rather remain in a sort of congealed state.

Traditional cups are not wildly useful for the thirsty astronaut that can no longer rely on the laws of gravity as they apply on earth.

The hot liquid would not flow neatly into your mouth it may well rest inertly in the cup or splatter, if the astronaut agitated it inappropriately.

A professor at Portland State University has developed a special device called a ‘microgravity condensing heat exchanger’ plus apparatus for separating and controlling the fluids.

So what does an astronaut’s coffee cup look like?

It is a vessel which has a sharp interior corner.

Why?

So that the fluid flows down the channel into the mouth of the coffee-thirsty consumer.

And, hopefully, the coffee keeps on coming until he is sated.

Take a look at NASA for more