Zero G

Solari · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:09

http://gozerog.com/

Well this is definitely on my "to do" list

Always wanted to go to Vegas so time to start saving

I think it'd have to wait until the pound recovers against the dollar though

Anyone done it?

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly like Superman can now be yours. Train with an expert coach, board our specially modified aircraft, G-FORCE ONE®, and experience the unforgettable..

Experience zero mavity the only way possible without going to space. Parabolic flight is the same method NASA has used to train its astronauts for the last 45 years and the same way Tom Hanks floated in Apollo 13.

Edit: Doable in Russia too - http://www.space-travellers.com/index.php?wohin=zerog_d&subon=7&bereich=zerog

Delvis · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:12

christ almighty...cost...COST....

And again....COST!

If you have the money though, there's also a thing you can do to become a cosmonaut for a few days...that's on Gap adventures I think.

BillytheImpaler · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:12

I would love to go aboard the Vomit Comet.

Solari · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:14

BillytheImpaler said:
I would love to go aboard the Vomit Comet.

I thought that was slang for the last train home on a Friday night?

As for cost, if you can get a group of 15 people together (OcUK outing?

), it can be done cheaper in Russia... Not so sure if I'd trust their (ageing?) planes though!

eyyaz · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:15

when i first saw this DEAD SPACE came to my head

Red and White · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:22

offered at a price of $4,950 per seat

nowhere near as much as i thought. still expensive obviously

Tefal · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:27

Why dot just do a sky dive? same thing just more windy

hm i onder if you could jump in a giant plastic bubble.... *starts business*

Solari · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:28

Red and White said:
offered at a price of $4,950 per seat

nowhere near as much as i thought. still expensive obviously

Yeah that's what's surprised me - it's not out of bounds for the average Joe if he *really* wants to do it. It'd be nice if the exchange rate was still 2:1 as I'd fly there on my way home from Aus and do it

I was looking at the MIG-31 stratosphere flight which looks awesome, but unfortunately I would rather buy a car than spend about 18,500 Euro on the experience

I need a lottery win so I can afford to do all this crazy stuff.

http://www.space-travellers.com/index.php?wohin=mig31&subon=6

Red and White · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:31

it must have taken ages to shoot Apollo 13 as i cant imagine the zero g lasts for that long and the plane must use a lot of fuel achieving the necessary speeds.

Delvis · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:32

Red and White said:
it must have taken ages to shoot Apollo 13 as i cant imagine the zero g lasts for that long and the plane must use a lot of fuel achieving the necessary speeds.

It used to only be a few seconds or so years ago...probably more now though.

Solari · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:33

Red and White said:
it must have taken ages to shoot Apollo 13 as i cant imagine the zero g lasts for that long and the plane must use a lot of fuel achieving the necessary speeds.

around 30 seconds per "weightless" cycle which is actually not a bad amount of time

For filming, a pain I guess but for a bit of fun, you rack up several minutes throughout the experience

Red and White · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:33

Delvis said:
It used to only be a few seconds or so years ago...probably more now though.

says on the website each period is about 25 to 30 seconds

http://gozerog.com/how-it-works.htm

edit:beaten

Delvis · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:36

Red and White said:
says on the website each period is about 25 to 30 seconds

http://gozerog.com/how-it-works.htm

edit:beaten

just read this

"Each Vomit Comet zero-mavity arc lasts only 23 seconds".

However many years ago it was probably substantially less.

Berserker · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:38

BillytheImpaler said:
I would love to go aboard the Vomit Comet.

Solari said:
I thought that was slang for the last train home on a Friday night?

Er, no, it's much worse than the last train home (which I have sadly had the misfortune to encounter - ewww).

The changes in mavity are rather sudden - you go from several G to near-zero in not very many seconds, and with some people this results in an uncontrollable urge to empty themselves forcefully (much like on a rollercoaster). The problem is you're in near-zero G when this happens, and liquids tend to behave rather differently without the presence of mavity. :eek:

Graphic enough for you?

I suspect I'd be one of those emptying myself, so I guess it probably isn't for me, much as I'd wish otherwise.

Red and White · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:39

Berserker said:
Er, no, it's much worse than the last train home (which I have sadly had the misfortune to encounter - ewww).

The changes in mavity are rather sudden - you go from several G to near-zero in not very many seconds, and with some people this results in an uncontrollable urge to empty themselves forcefully (much like on a rollercoaster). The problem is you're in near-zero G when this happens, and liquids tend to behave rather differently without the presence of mavity.

Graphic enough for you?

I suspect I'd be one of those emptying myself, so I guess it probably isn't for me, much as I'd wish otherwise.

does it not batter you off the side of the plane as well when it changes back to G's?

Delvis · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:40

Berserker said:
Er, no, it's much worse than the last train home (which I have sadly had the misfortune to encounter - ewww).

The changes in mavity are rather sudden - you go from several G to near-zero in not very many seconds, and with some people this results in an uncontrollable urge to empty themselves forcefully (much like on a rollercoaster). The problem is you're in near-zero G when this happens, and liquids tend to behave rather differently without the presence of mavity.

Graphic enough for you?

I suspect I'd be one of those emptying myself, so I guess it probably isn't for me, much as I'd wish otherwise.

You'd probably get given a pill I would have thought, like they where in Apollo 13, so they didn't bring they're lunch back up.

Berserker · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:42

Pills can only do so much. I would still advise you make sure you keep that lunch relatively light.

Red and White said:
does it not batter you off the side of the plane as well when it changes back to G's?

You usually get a few seconds warning from the pilot/instructor, and then try to do your best to brace yourself. Ignore the warning at your peril. Fortunately they tend to keep sharp edges to a minimum inside so besides a nasty bump you probably won't come to much harm.

Delvis · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:43

I'd eat a fair few hours before I think

Solari · 8 Dec 2008 at 23:44

Berserker said:
Pills can only do so much. I would still advise you make sure you keep that lunch relatively light.

TBH I was quite amazed at how well those anti sickness pills work. I was on a speedboat in Thailand once where the captain suddenly decided to start a race with one of the other boats (these are the boats with about 3 or 4 huge engines on the back) while the sea was rather choppy. Downing one of those pills made me feel much more human within a very short space of time

I never normally get seasick either :confused:

Zero G

Man of Honour