Hawking looks forward to the 'bliss' of weightlessness
26th April 2007
British scientist Stephen Hawking, who has motor neurone disease and is wheelchair-bound, has reportedly said he is looking forward to the 'bliss' of being weightless
Professor Stephen Hawking, one of the world's leading experts on gravity, will today learn what it feels like to be weightless.
The renowned theoretical physicist, who is almost totally paralysed by motor neuron disease, will abandon his wheelchair to float freely within a specially modified aircraft.
A similar plane, nicknamed the "vomit comet" is used by the American space agency Nasa to train astronauts.
The aircraft, a modified Boeing 727, simulates zero gravity by taking a steep dive and going into "freefall".
For about 25 seconds at the top of the dive, everything inside the padded cabin becomes weightless.
Prof Hawking will repeat the experience a number of times during the roller-coaster flight. Medical staff will be standing by on the plane.
Each "parabolic" manoeuvre will begin with a sharp climb to around 32,000 feet, followed by a rapid 8,000-foot descent.
When the plane pulls out after the dive, Prof Hawking will feel a G-force almost twice that of normal gravity.
Normally, about 15 climbs and dives are executed. By varying the rate of descent, the plane can simulate gravity on the moon (one sixth Earth gravity) or Mars (one third).
Prof Hawking's flight is being made possible by Zero Gravity Corporation, a space tourism and entertainment company based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The cosmologist, author of the best-selling book "A Brief History of Time", said in a statement: "As someone who has studied gravity and black holes all of my life, I am excited to experience, first hand, weightlessness and a zero-gravity environment.
"I am thankful to Zero Gravity Corporation for making this experience available to the general public, especially for disabled individuals."
The plane, G-Force One, will take off and land from the space shuttle runway at the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, Florida, under a commercial agreement with Nasa.
Prof Hawking is not being charged for the £1,875 flight, which was only arranged after extensive talks between his doctors and the Zero Gravity Corporation's medical team.
Several charities have been given the chance to auction off seats on the plane.
The flight, taking place at 7.30pm UK time, is really a dress rehearsal for a much more ambitious adventure.
Last year Prof Hawking publicly spoke of his desire to go into space and appealed to Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson, who plans to provide sub-orbital rides to paying passengers as early as 2009.
Sir Richard has agreed to "fix it" for the professor and arrange a Virgin Galactic flight for him. The spacecraft, launched from a mother ship at 50,000 feet, will soar to a height of 360,000 feet and reach a speed of 2,500 mph.
Zero Gravity Corporation went into business in 2004, with the approval of the US Federal Aviation Authority. As well as organising weightless flights for members of the public, it also serves the film and entertainment industries.
"It is truly an honour to have Prof Stephen Hawking aboard," said the company's chief executive and founder Dr Peter Diamandis.
dailymail.co.uk
26th April 2007
British scientist Stephen Hawking, who has motor neurone disease and is wheelchair-bound, has reportedly said he is looking forward to the 'bliss' of being weightless
Professor Stephen Hawking, one of the world's leading experts on gravity, will today learn what it feels like to be weightless.
The renowned theoretical physicist, who is almost totally paralysed by motor neuron disease, will abandon his wheelchair to float freely within a specially modified aircraft.
A similar plane, nicknamed the "vomit comet" is used by the American space agency Nasa to train astronauts.
The aircraft, a modified Boeing 727, simulates zero gravity by taking a steep dive and going into "freefall".
For about 25 seconds at the top of the dive, everything inside the padded cabin becomes weightless.
Prof Hawking will repeat the experience a number of times during the roller-coaster flight. Medical staff will be standing by on the plane.
Each "parabolic" manoeuvre will begin with a sharp climb to around 32,000 feet, followed by a rapid 8,000-foot descent.
When the plane pulls out after the dive, Prof Hawking will feel a G-force almost twice that of normal gravity.
Normally, about 15 climbs and dives are executed. By varying the rate of descent, the plane can simulate gravity on the moon (one sixth Earth gravity) or Mars (one third).
Prof Hawking's flight is being made possible by Zero Gravity Corporation, a space tourism and entertainment company based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The cosmologist, author of the best-selling book "A Brief History of Time", said in a statement: "As someone who has studied gravity and black holes all of my life, I am excited to experience, first hand, weightlessness and a zero-gravity environment.
"I am thankful to Zero Gravity Corporation for making this experience available to the general public, especially for disabled individuals."
The plane, G-Force One, will take off and land from the space shuttle runway at the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, Florida, under a commercial agreement with Nasa.
Prof Hawking is not being charged for the £1,875 flight, which was only arranged after extensive talks between his doctors and the Zero Gravity Corporation's medical team.
Several charities have been given the chance to auction off seats on the plane.
The flight, taking place at 7.30pm UK time, is really a dress rehearsal for a much more ambitious adventure.
Last year Prof Hawking publicly spoke of his desire to go into space and appealed to Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson, who plans to provide sub-orbital rides to paying passengers as early as 2009.
Sir Richard has agreed to "fix it" for the professor and arrange a Virgin Galactic flight for him. The spacecraft, launched from a mother ship at 50,000 feet, will soar to a height of 360,000 feet and reach a speed of 2,500 mph.
Zero Gravity Corporation went into business in 2004, with the approval of the US Federal Aviation Authority. As well as organising weightless flights for members of the public, it also serves the film and entertainment industries.
"It is truly an honour to have Prof Stephen Hawking aboard," said the company's chief executive and founder Dr Peter Diamandis.
dailymail.co.uk