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Parabolic Flight

All articles tagged with #parabolic flight

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Exploring Feline Reactions in Microgravity Experiments

In the 1950s, the US Air Force conducted experiments to observe how cats react to microgravity during parabolic flights, revealing that while disoriented, cats can still attempt to right themselves. These studies helped scientists understand feline reflexes and had implications for human motion in freefall, influencing astronaut training. The research demonstrated the role of the otolith organ in weightlessness and contributed to the development of mathematical models for human body orientation in space.

via ScienceAlert|

#aerospace-research #animal-behavior #cats

spaceflight2 years ago•9 min saved

"Weightless Parabolic Flight: Witnessing Soaring Student Science"

Elizabeth Howell, a staff writer for Space.com, shares her experience of flying on a parabolic flight in Canada, simulating the weightlessness of space. The flight included science experiments conducted by student teams supported by Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) Canada and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Parabolic flights are becoming essential for astronaut training, and companies like Zero-G are seeing increased demand for training forthcoming astronauts. The National Research Council Canada (NRC) operates a parabolic jet program for research purposes and partners with SEDS Canada and CSA to bring student researchers on board. The students' experiments focus on physical and life sciences, and the flights provide a unique hands-on experience for the students to develop and conduct their experiments.

via Space.com|

#astronaut-training #microgravity #national-research-council-canada

spaceflight2 years ago•11 min saved

"Zero-G Pilot Reveals Secrets to Simulating Lunar Gravity in a Plane"

Parabolic flight pilots create lunar and Martian gravity by flying the aircraft in such a way that it falls down, but not too much, to keep just the level of gravity that is needed. The Novespace Air Zero G Airbus A310 is the only plane in the world capable of simulating lunar gravity with scientific precision. These flights are so challenging that there must be four ultra-skilled pilots onboard each flight, making sure that the plane follows an ultra-precise trajectory as it climbs at a 50-degree angle, than falls down more than 8,200 feet before regaining a steady course.

via Space.com|

#aircraft #lunar-gravity #parabolic-flight