Being weightless is certainly the coolest thing I've ever experienced. I expected being in microgravity would feel tranquil like when you float under water. In fact, it was just the opposite! My entire body felt a very tangible 'buzz' that most likely stemmed from the physical sensation of falling and the adrenaline rush.
Feeling Weightless
Flying on the Weightless Wonder
Microgravity is completely indescribable. It is something that must be experienced for oneself. As we entered the first 1.8g pull and I was pressed against the floor of the aircraft, I felt a mixture of fear, excitement, and relief that we had finally made it to this moment. All of this disappeared into nothing but full-blown panic as I felt myself being sucked off the floor and into the air. I held onto the payload for dear life, and my brain struggled mightily to process what it was seeing. Looking towards the front of the plane, I felt as if I was looking downwards (appropriate considering the aircraft's orientation), but I also felt as if the airplane was suddenly flying upside-down. The seconds went by like minutes, and eventually the NASA bluesuits called "30-low", the signal that we were exiting the parabola and beginning to climb for our next run. I fully expected to fall towards the ceiling and bash my head in, but fell to my feet before I laid down for the 1.8g pullout.
Eric's initial reaction to the microgravity environment |
My memory of the next several parabolas was very hazy, I remember on what I recall parabola 4, looking over and seeing Joel's phone spinning in the air in front of him. It was at this very moment that I began to appreciate the sensation I was experiencing.
Before I knew it, we were in the turn to begin flying back towards Ellington Field. The rest of the zeros were exciting and fun before we ended the flight with our 2 Lunar parabolas and 2 Martian parabolas. The partials actually felt stranger than the zeros, but I don't really know why. They were just... different.
The experience was absolutely incredible, and something that everybody should do at least once. I hope I get the chance to do it again.
-Eric Sahr
On Board the G-Force One
Today was the first flight day for the University of Arizona team and that meant myself and Danny Pagano were first up to board the "vomit comet." We donned our snazzy flight-suits and prepared for the flight with a quick injection of scopolamine (an anti-motion sickness drug.) After getting full briefing from the RGEFP people and the flight surgeon, we boarded the airplane that would perform the parabolas which simulate weightlessness.
It wasn't very hard to get used to, although there were certainly times when I felt my body drifting off in an unplanned trajectory. Fortunately, I did not vomit at any point in time, but I did start feeling a bit woozy towards the end of the flight (one disadvantage of the injection over the pill is that it wears off quicker.)
If I could go back and redo the flight, there are only two things I would change: make sure I put the right memory card in my camera, and take more of an opportunity to do cool things like flips (even though the RGEFP people look down on that.) Overall, the experience as a whole -- experiment design, building, testing, and flying-- was a lot of work but very much worth it in the end; it's something I'll never forget and something I hope everyone can take part in someday!
-Andrew McGuckin
Space Center Houston
Yesterday, the UASEDS Microgravity team got to visit Space Center Houston. On the NASA tram tour, the team members got to see many attractions that the center has to offer.
Panorama view of the Saturn V (pronounced Saturn "five") |
This Saturn V is one of only three left in existence. It is over 36 stories tall, and it remains the tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket ever brought to operational status. To date, the Saturn V is the only launch vehicle to transport human beings beyond low Earth orbit!
Historic Mission Control |
Did you know? There’s more technology in a modern watch than there was in this room in 1969!
Astronaut Memorial Grove |
Today, two team members got to fly on the Zero-G Aircraft with the experiment. Stay tuned for more on their experience!
What is a Geological Fault?
A fault is a crack in the Earth's crust. The type of motion along a fault depends on the type of fault. In this experiment, the team is studying normal faults.
AOD Hangar Tour
Yesterday, the UASEDS Microgravity Team had the chance to see inside NASA's Aircraft Operations Division (AOD) hangar at Ellington Field.
Panorama view of AOD hangar |
Panorama view of the T-38 Talon |
NASA uses the aircraft as a jet trainer for its astronauts! It has a height of about 12 1/2 feet, length of 46 feet, wingspan of 25 feet and its maximum speed is 858 mph.
Team members Joel and Eric (right) view cockpit of the T-38 |
Inside the cockpit |
The instrument panel |
Only one more day till flight day!
2nd Day at Ellington Field
Team members Andrew and Danny plot and drill holes. |
Panorama view of the Sonny Carter Training Facility Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory |
The Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory consists of the water tank pictured above and its support facilities. This is where astronauts and engineers will perfect the techniques for building and operating the International Space Station (ISS) in the simulated weightless water environment.
The water tank is 202 feet long, 102 feet wide and 40 feet, 6 inches deep. It contains 6.2 million gallons of water!
Zero gravity is simulated under water by the use of specially weighted space suits creating "neutral buoyancy" conditions for realistic training of astronauts.