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Italian Espresso Expands Into Space
WASHINGTON— Italian-style espresso coffee has devotees around the world, with a growing number of people abandoning a regular cup of coffee for the thicker brew. Now, Italian coffee machine makers are working to create a device that will be able to produce espresso in weightless conditions on the International Space Station.
Many people cannot imagine life without coffee, and for most Italians, coffee means espresso, a thick brew prepared in a special coffee machine.
So, when Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti headed for the International Space Station earlier this month, her compatriots worried how she would survive there for six months, drinking only instant coffee.
"I believe that when working as an astronaut, a job in which you have to reason a lot, reflect, and be attentive, espresso is definitely very important," said one Italian.
To help Cristoforetti and other espresso lovers in orbit, the famed Turin-based coffee maker Lavazza and engineering firm Argotec, which specializes in making space food, joined forces to produce a coffee machine that would work at zero gravity.
"We had to figure out how to make coffee on the station exactly like we make it on earth. The other difficulty was complying with safety measures in order to qualify the machine as 'On-Board software' on the International Space Station," said Alberto Cabilli, R&D manager for Lavazza.
The machine, called ISSpresso, overcomes the absence of gravity by firing pressurized water through capsules of coffee. Cristoforetti took it with her for testing when she blasted off into orbit on November 23.
"The concept of this machine was for an experiment, so we started as a technology demonstration experiment, but NASA was very much interested in getting this machine and keeping it on the station most likely for a long time, not just to make a few coffees. So this means that most likely, if everything goes well, after this technology demonstration the machine will be kept at the International Space Station and be available for all the astronauts rotating on the station," said David Avino, Argotec’s managing director.
Italians consider themselves great connoisseurs of coffee, perhaps with good reason.
"We are very proud, not only as Italians but also as residents of Turin - the first espresso machine was created in Turin in 1884, so about 130 years ago. And today in 2014, another two Turin-based realities - Lavazza and Argotec - developed a machine that will bring espresso - not only across the world, but even in space," said Marcello Arcangeli, the head of Lavazza’s training center network.
Besides espresso, the ISSpresso machine is capable of preparing tea and clear soup.
詞匯解析
phase
難度：4星核心詞匯，屬常用3000詞
英漢解釋
n.相位；方面；局面；階段；時(shí)期
vt.逐步執(zhí)行
參考例句
用作名詞 (n.)
No phase transition evidence is found.
沒有發(fā)現(xiàn)任何相位躍遷的證據(jù)。
用作及物動(dòng)詞 (vt.)
The use of lead-free petrol is now being phased in.
無鉛汽油的應(yīng)用現(xiàn)正逐步推廣。
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terrific
難度：3星常用詞匯，屬常用6000詞
英漢解釋
adj.可怕的；極好的；非常的；危險(xiǎn)的
參考例句
用作形容詞 (adj.)
The ceiling came down with a terrific crash.
隨著一聲可怕的巨響，天花板塌了下來。
He is driving at a terrific speed.
他以極快的速度駕駛。
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flee
難度：4星核心詞匯，屬常用3000詞
英漢解釋
vi.逃走；消失；逃避；(時(shí)間)飛逝
vt.逃離
參考例句
用作不及物動(dòng)詞 (vi.)
He tried to flee from the police in a stolen car.
他企圖駕駛一輛偷來的車從警察局逃走。
He should not flee from responsibility.
他不應(yīng)逃避責(zé)任。
用作及物動(dòng)詞 (vt.)
Many refugees have been forced to flee their homeland.
很多難民被迫逃離了祖國。
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overnight
難度：3星常用詞匯，屬常用6000詞
英漢解釋
adv.在夜里；過夜；突然
adj.整晚的；很快的
參考例句
用作副詞 (adv.)
All arrangements for your stay overnight on September10 will, of course, be made by us at our expense.
當(dāng)然,所有安排您在9月10日晚間夜宿的費(fèi)用,將皆由本公司代為支付。
用作形容詞 (adj.)
The actress won overnight fame with her first film.
這個(gè)女演員的第一部電影使她一舉成名。
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substantial
難度：4星核心詞匯，屬常用3000詞
英漢解釋
adj.大量的；堅(jiān)固的；實(shí)質(zhì)的；可觀的
n.本質(zhì)；重要部份
參考例句
用作形容詞 (adj.)
New economic development policies led to substantial and rapid growth.
新的經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展政策帶來了快速和大量的增長。
Substantial profits accrue when sales take off.
當(dāng)銷售額突飛猛進(jìn)之后，可觀的利潤就開始自然累積。
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global
難度：4星核心詞匯，屬常用3000詞
英漢解釋
adj.全球性的；總的；球狀的
參考例句
用作形容詞 (adj.)
The green campaign is a global phenomenon.
綠色運(yùn)動(dòng)是全球性的現(xiàn)象。
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faith
難度：4星核心詞匯，屬常用3000詞
英漢解釋
n.信仰；信念；信任
參考例句
用作名詞 (n.)
Christians profess their faith when they say the Creed.
基督教徒在念信經(jīng)時(shí)就表明了他們的宗教信仰。
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