
Coffee From Space: The Unseen Science Behind Tomorrow's Brew on the ISS
2025-07-11
Author: Jacob
The Latest from the International Space Station: July 7-11, 2025
This week aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the Expedition 73 crew has been busy, unpacking a new cargo ship and diving deep into groundbreaking research with a fresh team of international astronauts.
Recycling in Orbit: Yesterday’s Coffee, Today's Brew
NASA astronaut Jonny Kim humorously noted on social media, "Yesterday’s coffee is today’s coffee." What’s behind this cosmic coffee cycle? The ISS features a remarkable water reclamation system that transforms the crew's wastewater—think urine and sweat—into fresh drinking water. This week, Kim took on the task of replacing the crucial recycling tank.
He explained, "Astronauts’ urine is mixed with chemicals and stored in a holding tank until further processing. While Houston manages things from the ground, sometimes we need to roll up our sleeves for maintenance."