CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The SpaceX supply ship arrived at the International Space Station on Friday morning, delivering the world's first espresso machine designed exclusively for astronauts.
Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti captured the Dragon capsule, which arrived three days after its Florida launch, with the help of a giant robot arm. The cargo carrier holds more than 4,000 pounds of much-needed groceries, experiments and equipment.
Italy provided the espresso maker for Cristoforetti, who's been stuck with instant coffee since her mission began in November.
"It's been just amazing," Cristoforetti said after snaring the Dragon over the Pacific. "Lots of science and even coffee's in there, so that's pretty exciting."
The espresso machine is three months late because of the backlog created by last year's loss of a supply ship in a launch explosion. Much later and the espresso machine would have missed Cristoforetti, who returns home next month. She says she can't wait to try some space espresso.
The Dragon will remain at the orbiting lab until around May 21, when it will be released full of experiments and discarded equipment for return to Earth. It's the only supply ship capable of bringing items back.