[elromulous]

Are you sure Lavazza didn't eat the cost? It's great marketing material for them.

This could be similar to the fisher space pen. There's a common urban legend that NASA spent millions developing the space pen, while the soviets simply used pencils. Fisher actually paid for the development of the space pen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writing_in_space

[Leonard_of_Q]

As long as Lavazza also sponsors the launch costs for the coffee cartridges which come in at ~100 times the weight of the free-dried alternative used in lieu of this contraption.

Next up:

- the Russians will launch a new module containing a rye farm and a distillery 'cause cosmonauts can't be expected to drink pre-bagged vodka.

- The Americans, not to be outdone launch a ring-shaped module containing a stretch of prairie where cattle roam 'cause damn'it we'll have our grass-fed beef whether we're in space or not.

- When the Indians finally get their module attached it will turn out to be somewhat reminiscent of the American one with the addition of a ghee factory

- the Japanese module is full of water and fish and space-sea-weed with a small compartment for the sushi chef

- the Chinese module is filled with earth and eggs behind doors bearing labels telling the crew when the required 1000 years have been reached

- the Dutch turn up with a giant solar wind mill

- ...