NASA uses commercial Zero G aircraft for experiments

[shuttle_guy]

<p>&nbsp;</p><p><span class="BTX">NASA for the first time last week used microgravity research flights aboard commercially-owned aircraft to test hardware.&nbsp; These flights, on an airplane operated by the Zero Gravity Corporation, simulated the weightless conditions of space.</span></p><p>http://www.spacemart.com/reports/NASA_Uses_Commercial_Microgravity_Flight_Services_For_First_Time_999.html</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[tanstaafl76]

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Odd that they didn't mention what kind of plane it was. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[shuttle_guy]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>&nbsp;Odd that they didn't mention what kind of plane it was. <br />Posted by tanstaafl76</DIV></p><p>The aircraft is a Boeing 727 operated by Zero G corp. I actually was lucky enough to fly on that A/C in July as part of a microgravity training course for some of us KSC folks.<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" /> We did 15 parabolas, one each at Mars gravity and Lunar gravity then 12 zero G runs. We flew out of the Titusville, Florida airport. We had planned to fly out of the Shuttle runway at KSC however we had a Shuttle Orbiter&nbsp;in orbit at the time so those guys did not want us in their way.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>