Food, experiment materials and an espresso machine to be sent in space today

This includes critical materials to directly support about 40 of the more than 250 science and research investigations that will occur during the space station’s Expeditions 43 and 44. If launches as scheduled, the Dragon spacecraft will arrive at the space station Wednesday, April 15. Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency) will use the station’s 57.7-foot robotic arm to reach out and capture Dragon. She will have also a special reward: aboard the SpaceX supply ship is an authentic espresso machine straight from Italy, made in cooperation Italian coffee giant Lavazza  with the Turin-based engineering company Argotec and the Italian Space Agency to provide a specially designed machine for use off the planet. This will be na experiment using specially designed space cups which use fluid properties such as surface tension to control the beverage in the cup.. Crew members can use to make tea, coffee, broth or other hot beverages.