We’re set to make a bit of history today as humans: residents of the International Space Station (ISS) will be able to get a decent cup of coffee. Oh, also, SpaceX will attempt for the first time to “land a rocket on a platform floating in the Atlantic” which will be a great feat and will be a “huge step toward making reusable rockets a reality”.

We’re talking cutting the costs of space travel and the actual launches which usually cost hundreds of million of US dollars, so any savings at this point will be a good thing.

Let’s have a look at how SpaceX plans to do this:

After the launch, the first stage of the rocket separates and then thrusters flip on to reorient the rocket and point it back towards Earth. Grid fins deploy just before the rocket reenters Earth’s atmosphere and a sophisticated GPS tracking system guides the rocket to its landing spot.

The unmanned 22-story-tall Falcon9 is heading to the ISS to deliver some groceries via the Dragon space capsule, with one of the most important things being a coffee machine.

Dubbed the “ISSspresso” machine, it will allow ISS crew members to brew espresso, tea, coffee, broth or other hot beverages, according to NASA.

NASA has said that “the ISSpresso machine is not much larger than a typical espresso machine”  and that “it works by heating and pressurizing water at room temperature to brew espresso and will help improve food options and variety for orbiting crew members”.

Along with the ISSpresso machine, astronauts will also be getting new cups.

But back to the SpaceX mission. This is which parts of the Falcon9 will do what, according to an infografic from Draw Science:

You can watch the live launch via SpaceX or NASA TV at 4:10 pm ET (22h10 for South Africa).

[Source: Mashable and Business Insider]