Universe  ID: 11412

Drinking In Zero Gravity

Story by Kayvon Sharghi Released on December 5, 2013
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NASA invents a new way for consuming beverages in space.
The conventional way of ingesting liquids while living aboard the International Space Station requires sucking on a tube or nozzle that’s attached to a fluid-filled pouch. Now, thanks to some American ingenuity, crew members are able to drink beverages from a cup. An invention, dubbed the zero-g cup, takes into account how liquids behave in a weightless environment and uses the laws of physics to direct fluid to the cup’s rim where it can be sipped. The motion used to drink out of the cup is the same as it is on Earth. The cup also has an added benefit: it’s spill-free. Watch the video to learn more.
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Is this how future astronauts will drink in space? Watch the video to find out.
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The zero-g cup (above) is made out of plastic and is slightly larger than a trading card.
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Once liquid is dispensed into the cup, it clings to the bottom and flows up the narrow wall of the container.
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To drink from the cup, the container is raised to the lips and liquid is sipped from the rim.

For More Information

Science@NASA

Story Credits

Lead Writer:
Kayvon Sharghi (USRA)

Please give credit for this item to:
Science@NASA and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Images courtesy of NASA

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11412

Keywords:
SVS >> App
NASA Science >> Universe