How Do Astronauts Practice Weightlessness?
How Do Astronauts Practise Weightlessness?
When astronauts venture beyond Earth's atmosphere, they experience a sense of weightlessness. This is because the forward speed of their spacecraft in orbit cancels out the effects of Earth's gravitational pull, causing them to enter a state of free fall that feels like floating.
Parabolic Flights
To prepare for this environment, NASA trains astronauts on parabolic flights that simulate the sensation of free fall through a series of arcs. These flights climb to an altitude of 24,000 feet, then begin a 45-degree ascent that increases the weight of gravity to twice its normal effect. The plane then dives down to 24,000 feet again, allowing passengers to experience weightlessness for about 20 to 25 seconds as they fall at the same rate as the aircraft.
This sensation is similar to the feeling you may experience on a roller coaster, where climbing the track results in a feeling of being pulled downward, while rushing downward may create a sense of hanging in the air before being pulled back down by safety harnesses.
Typically, a parabolic flight involves completing 15 parabolas. This provides astronauts with a chance to experience zero gravity and allows NASA researchers to conduct short experiments and test equipment under reduced gravity conditions.
Inside a parabolic flight
