Parabolic Flight
I had a coffee with a friend recently, and we ended up sharing various life stories. They had no knowledge of my past career, and were fascinated to hear about my parabolic flight experience. Today’s post recalls the flight, and I hope readers also find it interesting.
Background
In 2012 I was Director of Policy and Operations at the UK Space Agency. Part of my remit involved close working with international agencies, including CNES – Centre National D’Etudes Spatiales – the French space agency. I was both amazed, and terrified, to receive an invitation to join senior CNES officials on a parabolic flight. As someone who has never liked flying, and avoids rollercoasters, this opportunity sounded too much to contemplate. But it also sounded like something I would never have the chance to try again. So I accepted the invitation, and a few months later, I travelled to the south of France.
Parabolic, or zero gravity flights, were developed during the 1950s as a way of creating short periods of zero gravity. The flights were used to gather information about human reactions to experiencing weightlessness. During the 1960s, larger craft were used, meaning there was room onboard for passengers and scientific equipment. These airborne laboratories were used to carry out experiments in a range of subjects, including physics, human physiology, and technology.
In 2021
By 2012, parabolic flights used the Airbus A300 Zero-G. Operated by Novespace, a subsidiary of CNES, planes took off from Bordeaux-Mérignac airport. The night before our flight, we had a chance to meet other passengers during the briefing session. This was followed by further safety presentations on the day itself. We were all offered anti-nausea medication before take-off, which I recall most people took. Passengers included scientists from the European Space Agency, the administrator of the French space agency, experienced and trainee astronauts, and representatives from other space agencies.
For safety reasons, none of the manoeuvres took place until the craft was around 5-6 miles high and flying over the Atlantic. By this time, we were free of the seated section at the back, and able to explore the inside of the plane.
Flight Experience
Each parabolic arc was counted down from ten, so we could prepare. On zero, the plane suddenly began to ascend steeply, at an angle of about 45 degrees. During this time (about 20 seconds), we were pinned to the sides, the gravitational force creating a sense of being almost twice our usual weight. Reaching the top of the arc, the pilots gradually throttled back until the engine speed was almost zero. At this point, the plane began its freefall descent. After almost 30 seconds, the pilots pulled the plane out of its dive, levelled the nose, and prepared for the next ascent.
Before the zero gravity parabolas, the pilots created a fall of around 40% that of Earth gravity, more or less replicating gravity on Mars. They then flew a couple of parabolas equivalent to about 17% Earth’s gravity, replicating the gravitational pull on the Moon. Then, it was time for the full zero gravity experience. This is what we see in videos recorded on the International Space Station. It’s not that there’s no gravity, but that astronauts are in freefall as they travel within the station.
In the absence of any air resistance inside, we found ourselves in zero gravity freefall within the aircraft. We fitted, broadly, into three categories. Astronauts, who were accustomed to the sensation, and had enough control to perform somersaults. Scientists, monitoring their technical equipment. And the rest of us, who – in the main – tumbled chaotically.
It was an incredible experience. The feeling of falling unrestricted. Seeing others experience it for the first time too. Our entire shared existence held within the body of the plane which fell with us. Having approached the flight with trepidation, I enjoyed every minute.
Experiments During Parabolic Flight
Among the main benefits, parabolic flight provides the opportunity to test components of equipment before launching it into space. This includes testing the operation of satellites, or parts for the space station.
Some disease studies are trialled in zero gravity before running for longer on the space station. Various medical trials, for example, use weightless environments. In some cases, such as Parkinson’s research, the lack of gravity means that proteins used to treat the disease grow more quickly and in a more structured pattern. This makes them easier to study using high resolution imaging technology.
Zero gravity flights also create the environment to study the affects of weightlessness on astronauts. This is invaluable in testing new equipment, and better understanding the impact of space travel on human physiology.
Finally
I asked André Kuipers (pictured in the left hand photo) about his experience of life on the International Space Station. His abiding memory was observing a phenomenon here on Earth. The sight of vast areas of the ocean glowing with the phosphorescent bloom of algae.
Marine creatures including some fish, squid, tiny crustaceans, and algae produce bioluminescence – the glow – to confuse predators, draw prey to them, or even attract mates. Interesting that an astronaut, journeying in low Earth orbit saw such beauty not in space, but on the planet we call home.
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