The European Space Agency (ESA) launched the latest in a series of microgravity parabolic flights using an adapted Airbus A300 in late October. The flights, which involve experiments in weightlessness, test instruments and equipment before they undergo a real spaceflight.
The latest series of flights involve nine human respiration system and materials processing experiments. The aircraft performs a nose-up manoeuvre to put it into a steep climb, which creates a centripetal force of 1.8g for about 20s. Engine thrust is reduced to almost zero to put the aircraft into a parabola. The aircraft then climbs until it reaches the apex of the parabola, at which point it starts descending.
During this condition, which lasts for 25s, passengers and equipment float in weightlessness.
Source: Flight International
