In November 2004 my life time dream of space flight came a step closer to reality with a zero-g flight in a Boeing 727 especially modified for this purpose by some of the same folks who brought us the X-Prize.
The experience starts with a series of briefings, including one by astronaut Rick Searfoss, who was pilot on three space shuttle missions, including one to the Mir space station.
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Walking to the plane...
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Our pilots and flight engineer... |
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We're at about 20,000' over the Gulf of Mexico getting ready. Group photo of all flyers.
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Green team posing with Rick Searfoss. We're ready! |
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Now where did I put my camera?
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Pre-float briefing... |
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I'm on the "Green Team" lead by coach Lila in black on the left. Rick Searfoss is next to her. |
First there were two "parabolas" at 1/3 G, like on the surface of Mars, and three more at 1/6 G, like on the surface of the Moon. These were followed by 11 parabolas at zero-g (we were supposed to get 10 but we hollered for more and they gave us an extra). As you can see everyone is all smiles, even Coach Lila who has done this many times.
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Sitting out the 2-G period between weightless periods... |
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Skydivers are reminded of when a big-way funnels...bodies everywhere... |
I think she OD'd on FUN!!!
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The challenge of quenching your thirst in zero-G.... |
..Or of dressing / undressing? (We won't go there...)
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That Lila can fly!
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And flip... |
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Leapin' Lelia! And me in the background. |
Oh, this gal's just having way too much fun!
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I'm way over on the right...
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Make way for Superman!
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I'm in the background doing a hand-stand, sort of...
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I'm on the far left, tippy-toe... |
Remember the flight attendant from 2001 A Space Odyssey? Well, here she is in Zero-G! She kept me from landing on the seats more than once. The reduced gravity part of each parabola lasted about 25 seconds, preceded and followed by about 25 seconds at nearly 2 G. During one of these 2 G intervals I played catch with Lila. That ball sure didn't go very far! Sorry, no picture of that.
Those are my feet up near the ceiling, and the gal up there with the bull horn is telling us to get back on the floor before the 2-G's hit! As you might guess, Diet Rite Cola is a sponsor.
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After the flight, an astronaut hand-shake..and he turns our name tags right side up signifying we're no longer zero-g rookies.
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My flying partner Daniel gets his hand-shake. |
Well, it all went by so fast. I was reminded of the song lyric "coming home to a place he'd never been before" because it sure felt like home and I sure had only been there in my dreams! I didn't get sick at all even without taking the precautions they recommended. No one on our flight got sick, but most laid flat on the floor during the 2-G and had taken motion sickness medication, which I and some others did not. After the third parabola I was up looking around and playing catch during the 2-G! It just seemed natural to me, both the 2-G and the reduced and Zero-G. I guess I'll be up on the ceiling for a while, and I asked them if they had any volunteer coaching positions open. One final thought that came to my mind: How wonderful it would be for folks who struggle so with gravity, the elderly and infirm, if they could live in reduced gravity. Getting up and around would be almost effortless and falling down wouldn't hurt at all.
To find out more, visit www.nogravity.com
Memorabilia:
The memorabilia (besides the pictures / video) flyers received included a flight suit, Weightless Certificate, zero-g pen, zero-g socks with rubber grippers (worn in lieu of shoes on the flight), carry bag, zero-g log book, boarding pass, and barf bag (unused I am happy to say), and a t-shirt (see below).
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(Close up of mission patch)
