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We recently had the opportunity to learn about U.S. Space Camp, an educational/recreational program for children and adults, that features several simulators patterned after NASA's actual training apparatus. The 1/6th Gravity Trainer reproduces the sensation of walking on the moon, where the gravitational pull is one-sixth that of the Earth; the Microgravity Wall uses hydraulics to simulate neutral buoyancy and the weightlessness of space; and the Five Degrees of Freedom trainer runs on air bearings to simulate the frictionless
environment of space. While Space Camp works closely with NASA to create a vivid learning environment, it's not a state-of-the-art training facility, so we boldly went to find some additional information. We paraphrased your question by typing zero gravity simulation space training into Yahoo!'s search box. The results launched us towards the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft category in the Yahoo! directory. This plane, a predecessor of the Boeing 707, was first designed in the 1950s to serve the military for air refueling. Modified by NASA, one of
these aircraft is now used at the Johnson Space Center for investigating the effects of zero gravity by flying parabolas -- it has acquired the nickname Vomit Comet. We learned that in order to produce approximately 20 to 25 seconds of zero-gravity conditions, a very specific trajectory maneuver must be performed. We read a description of a typical microgravity research flight, which included a photo of the author losing his breakfast. Several of the space tour operators we came across in the search results offer zero-gravity
flight experiences for their paying clientele. We assume the airsick bags are included. Looking for more? You might be interested in signing up for SPACESIM, a free electronic newsletter for "space simulation enthusiasts."
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