Program Overview

Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program Overview:

Along with 4 other teachers, I have been fortunate to be selected to go on the Vomit Comet/Weightless Wonder to test experiments in microgravity!

What is the Vomit Comet?

 
What is microgravity?

Microgravity is a term used to describe various states of gravity much less than the normal gravity typically experienced on earth. The gravity here on Earth is referred to as one G and our parabolic flight experience will give you the opportunity to experience microgravity near or at zero gravity. The microgravity effect is achieved through free fall. The result is 15-25 seconds of free fall just like you would experience on the International Space Station!!!! 

What is a flight parabola?

A flight parabola is a maneuver performed by the plane where the flyer experiences different levels of gravity. Check out the image (Figure 1) to see how the plane travels as it maneuvers during each parabola. 

What is a typical flight profile?

The reduced gravity aircraft generally flies 30 parabolic maneuvers over the Gulf of Mexico. This parabolic pattern provides about 30 seconds of hypergravity (about 1.8G-2G) as the plane climbs to the top of the parabola. Once the plane starts to "nose over" the top of the parabola to descend toward Earth, the plane experiences about 15-25 seconds of microgravity (μG). At the very top and bottom of the parabola, flyers experience a mix of partial G's between 0 and 1.8 (called "dirty air"). 

Figure 1: Microgravity flight parabola   

Frequently Asked Questions:

How many individuals will be selected for the PSTI Flight team?
Five PSTI alumni will be selected for the NASA Reduced Gravity Education Flight program for July 15-21, 2012. 

Where will our flight activities be held?

Flight week activities will be held at the Johnson Space Center and Ellington Field.

What kind of airplane do we fly on?

Currently, the airplane is a modified Boeing 727-200.