Archive for June 2013

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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

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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.


Things happened in quite a rush, it seemed like we had just taken off when they told us to head up to our experiments and get them ready.  We booted up the laptop, got the arduino gravity sensor up and running, and made sure all the cameras were on.  Our experiment only required the lunar and martian gravity parabolas, so for the entire flight until the very end, we got to experience weightlessness without worrying about the experiment.  It was the most amazing experience of my life.  The feeling of being in microgravity is almost indescribable, it's almost as if you're swimming through the air, yet at the same time completely different.  I'm sure it's a sensation I'll never forget (and one I really want to experience again someday.)

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

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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 is the Saturn V Rocket, the most powerful rocket ever built and operated. Its design played a major role in successfully transporting and landing American astronauts on the moon during the Apollo missions.

 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
This is Historic Mission control. This is the facility where NASA monitored nine Gemini, and all Apollo missions, including the historic Apollo 11 trip to the moon. In fact, from this room the NASA team exercised full mission control of Apollo 11 from launch and liftoff at the Kennedy Space Center to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

 Did you know? There’s more technology in a modern watch than there was in this room in 1969!

Astronaut Memorial Grove
This is the Astronaut Memorial Grove. The grove consists of live oaks and shumard red oaks planted in honor of astronauts who have died. Seven oaks were added to the stand of trees following the loss of the Columbia crew on February 1, 2003.


Today, two team members got to fly on the Zero-G Aircraft with the experiment. Stay tuned for more on their experience!

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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.



A normal fault is a geologic fault in which the hanging wall has moved downward relative to the footwall. Normal faults occur where two blocks of rock are pulled apart, as by tension.

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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

NASA operates a fleet of T-38 aircraft. The Northrop T-38 Talon is a two-seat, twin-engine supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first supersonic trainer.

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!

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2nd Day at Ellington Field

Team members Andrew and Danny plot and drill holes.
After a day of working on the payload, the UASEDS Microgravity team had the chance to visit NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Lab at Johnson Space Center.

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.



Stay tuned for more updates. The team boards the "Weightless Wonder" on Thursday!


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What is a flight parabola?

A flight parabola is a maneuver performed by the plane where the flyer experiences different levels of gravity. Check out the image below to see how the plane travels as it maneuvers during each parabola.


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Work Day

Today, the UASEDS Microgravity team had the chance to visit Houston's premier hackerspace Tx/Rx Labs.


The Tx/Rx Lab members were very welcoming and were able to help the team cut parts needed for their payload.

Tx/Rx member Chris cuts the brackets with a plasma cutter.

Team member Joel Mueting holding the finished angle brackets.
Panorama view of Tx/Rx Labs' work space.


The team members had a great experience and were grateful for all the help. Tomorrow the team heads back to Ellington Field to prepare for the Test Readiness Review!

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