NGM Blog Central - No Gravity, No Straw: Birth of a Space Cup - National Geographic Magazine

Zero-g-cup-455
In zero gravity, astronauts crave earthly comforts. That’s why they strap their heads to foam “pillows” at night. Alas, liquids pool or slosh and must be ingested from a pouch via straw. “You feel like an insect sucking juices out of another insect,” says astronaut Don Pettit. So, on a mission last November, he made a cup from a plastic sheet sealed with tape.

The sharp angle draws liquids to the lip—a force called capillary action, which pulls fuel into rocket engines. In a thousand years, he says, today’s technology will be long gone, but space travelers will drink up from his cup. —Marc Silver

Photos: Donald R. Pettit (top); Mark Thiessen, NG photographer

Posted by National Geographic Staff | Comments (8)
Filed Under: Space, Wide Angle

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Calgary Web Design
May 12, 2009 2PM #

Space travelers will drink up from his cup... that's if they can't figure out the anti-gravs by then!

D Chaudhury
May 12, 2009 2PM #

Rather cool. Its a wonder no one till now elicited a wish to drink from 'cups' in zero gravity yet.
A video illustrating the final action would have been awesome.

Marc Silver
May 12, 2009 2PM #

Yes, there is a video! Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk7LcugO3zg

AnthonyIac
May 12, 2009 2PM #

I drink his milkshake. I drink it up out of his cup!

D Chaudhury
May 12, 2009 2PM #

Thanks Marc

vince
May 12, 2009 2PM #

Shouldnt there be a cover at the top? I can imagine bringing the cup to your lips too fast and inertia carrying the liquid out of the cup into your face.

Amanda
May 12, 2009 2PM #

personally, I like drinking from a straw. makes me feel like a kid again

Jacob Yackenovich
May 12, 2009 2PM #

I see how the cup allows for drinking liquids in a zero g environment (which is quite fantastic to figure this out), but how does the liquid first enter the cup? In other words, I can drink from this coffee cup, but how do I pour the coffee into the cup from the coffee pot?

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