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Author Topic:   Stephen Hawking plans on going to space
Lunatiki
Member

Posts: 237
From: Amarillo, TX, USA
Registered: Dec 2006

posted 01-08-2007 04:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lunatiki     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hawking: I'm planning space flight
quote:
LONDON, England (AP) -- Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking says he wants to undertake a zero-gravity flight aboard an airplane this year as a precursor to a journey into space, a newspaper reported Monday.

"This year I'm planning a zero-gravity flight and to go into space in 2009," he was quoted as saying in The Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Hawking, 65, has said he hopes to travel on British businessman Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic service, which is scheduled to launch in 2009. The service will charge space tourists about $200,000 (about £100,000) for a two-hour suborbital trip some 87 miles (140 kilometers) above the Earth.


Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-01-2007 09:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Zero Gravity release
quote:
Professor Stephen Hawking to Experience Weightlessness Aboard Zero-Gravity Flight Out of Kennedy Space Center on April 26, 2007
Flight to Help Raise Funds for Charitable Organizations Serving Children, the Disabled, and Science and Space

Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G), announced today that Prof. Stephen Hawking, the world renowned physicist and expert on gravity, will fly weightless on The ZERO-G Experience™ on April 26, 2007. The flight will take off from the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Central Florida.

Prof. Hawking's best selling books, "A Brief History of Time" and "Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays" examines the basic laws, history and future of the universe. Hawking is known for his contributions to the fields of cosmology and quantum gravity, especially in the context of black holes. He has also made public his interest in experiencing weightlessness, and the importance of space as the next frontier for human population.

"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," said Prof. Hawking. "I am thankful to Zero Gravity Corporation for making this experience available to the general public, especially for disabled individuals."

"It is truly an honor to have Prof. Stephen Hawking aboard The ZERO-G Experience™," stated Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, CEO and Co-Founder of ZERO-G. "Our mission is to make the excitement and adventure of space and weightlessness accessible and enjoyable. Flying Prof. Hawking helps us demonstrate how this unique experience, once available only to astronauts, is now available to everyone."

The Hawking flight has been organized for a number of reasons, including as a benefit for several charitable organizations including Easter Seals (www.easterseals.com); the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation (www.starlight.org); the X PRIZE Foundation (xprize.org) and Augie's Quest (www.augiesquest.org). Each of these groups will be given two seats aboard the flight to auction off.

Space Florida, the organization charged with promoting commercial space in the state of Florida, has come aboard as a sponsor of the flight. "We are excited and proud to have Professor Hawking fly from the Kennedy Space Center aboard a Florida-based commercial carrier," said Steve Kohler, Executive Director of the Space Florida.

The ZERO-G Experience consists of a brief training session for flyers (ZERO-G passengers) followed by a 90-minute flight aboard G-Force One, during which parabolic maneuvers are performed. The controlled ascent and descent of the plane allows flyers to experience gravity on Mars (1/3-gravity); the moon (1/6-gravity); and in zero-g space. Since launching its service to the general public in September 2004, the company has conducted more than 100 weightless flights and flown more than 2,500 passengers, including celebrities and personalities, corporate charters, science and math teachers, and individuals age 12 to 85.

G-Force One is a specially-modified, 35-passenger Boeing 727-200, and The ZERO-G Experience is the only FAA-approved weightless flight experience available to the general public. The weightless flights are similar to those conducted by NASA for more than 40 years to train its astronauts. ZERO-G was recently granted FAA approval to fly individuals with disabilities. ZERO-G operates under the highest safety standards as set by the FAA (Part-121) with its partner Amerijet International. Aircraft operations take place under the same regulations set for commercial passenger airlines.

About ZERO-G
Zero Gravity Corporation (www.GoZeroG.com) is a privately held space entertainment and tourism company whose mission is to make the excitement and adventure of space accessible to the public. ZERO-G is based in Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada, and is the first and only FAA-approved provider of weightless flight to the general public, as well as the entertainment and film industries; corporate and incentive market; non-profit research and education sectors; and government. For more information about ZERO-G, please visit http://www.GoZeroG.com or call (800) ZERO-G-800.


music_space
Member

Posts: 1179
From: Canada
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 03-04-2007 05:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for music_space   Click Here to Email music_space     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
From the NY Times

Can't imagine a more deserving soul. Just can't.

------------------
François Guay
Collector of litterature, notebooks, equipment and memories!

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-07-2007 10:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
The Hawking flight has been organized for a number of reasons, including as a benefit for several charitable organizations...
From an X Prize release:
quote:
Zero G auctioned off experiences in weightlessness with Stephen Hawking to Bill Lee, and to Anne Wojcicki and George Harkin with Anousheh Ansari for $160,000.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 03-16-2007 09:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Seen on eBay:

Fly with Stephen Hawking on The ZERO-G Experience! 4/26

quote:
You and a guest can fly weightless with Prof. Stephen Hawking on The ZERO-G Experience™! The flight will take off from the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Central Florida on April 26, 2007. The package will also include a three night stay at the JW Marriott Hotel Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida, from April 24-April 27!

100% of the proceeds from this auction will benefit Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation. The 10-day auction begins March 16 at 6pm PST.


Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 04-26-2007 10:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Zero G release

quote:
Professor Stephen Hawking Experiences the Freedom of Weightlessness During Historic Zero-Gravity Flight Out of Kennedy Space Center

Flight Raises More Than $144,000 for Charitable Organizations Serving Children, the Disabled, and Science and Space

Zero Gravity Corporation (Zero-G), and its sponsors, Space Florida and The Sharper Image, successfully flew world-renowned physicist, cosmologist, and best-selling author Professor Stephen Hawking into weightlessness today, performing eight parabolas, out of the Kennedy Space Center today. It was the first time Professor Hawking, the world's leading expert on gravity, had an opportunity to experience zero gravity. The Zero-G ExperienceTM fight with Professor Hawking took off from the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Central Florida.

"It was amazing. The zero-g part was wonderful," said Professor Stephen Hawking. "I could have gone on and on – space here I come!"

Hawking added, "I recommend the experience to everyone and I hope that many will follow me and experience weightlessness. There are a few people and organizations I would like to thank. First I'd like to thank Zero Gravity Corporation, The Shaper Image and Peter Diamandis for arranging this for me. Second, I'd like to thank Space Florida and the NASA Kennedy Space Center for being my host. The Space Shuttle Landing Facility is the first step to the moon and Mars. It is very special for me, to fly into weightlessness from here."

"Professor Hawking's expression said it all — the grins of sheer joy and excitement he displayed were unmistakable and no different than the giddiness and fun that all of our flyers experience," said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, CEO and Co-Founder of Zero-G, "For me personally, and for all of us at Zero-G, it has been a complete honor and thrill to give Professor Hawking this opportunity to fulfill one of his lifelong dreams."

Professor Hawking did not fly with his wheelchair, rather, he was placed flat on his back, on the specially padded floor in the center of the large open cabin at the start of each parabola. He then floated up into the center of the cabin. Zero-G co-founders Dr. Peter H. Diamandis (pictured right), and astronaut Byron Lichtenberg were positioned alongside of Hawking as he floated weightless (pictured left) with the assistance of nurse practitioner Nicola O'Brien, then carefully guide him slowly back down to the floor during the return to normal gravity. The onboard flight's crew and staff included four physicians, two of which are members of Hawking's own medical team.

The Hawking flight was also organized as a benefit for several charitable organizations, namely Easter Seals; the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation; the X PRIZE Foundation and Augie's Quest. Zero-G donated two seats aboard the Hawking flight to each group, for them to then auction off. Altogether, the charities raised $144,000, which included $75,000 raised by the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation for the two tickets it auctioned on eBay. In addition to the flight itself, the donors and other passengers that participated also enjoyed a Space Florida-sponsored dinner and lecture by Professor Hawking at the JW Marriott in Orlando on Wednesday evening, April 25.

In preparation for the actual flight, Zero Gravity Corporation scheduled a training flight yesterday, Wednesday, April 25, 2007. The flight included Professor Hawking's personal staff, medical team, a Hawking body-double and Zero-G's coaching team. Space Florida, the organization charged with promoting commercial space in the state of Florida, served as the flight's education sponsor and selected a Florida teacher and student to participate in this experience.

Ted Straight, an 8th grader at Stone Middle School in Melbourne, FL of similar height, weight and build as Professor Hawking, had the prestigious honor of serving as Hawking's stand-in, or body-double, on yesterday's training flight. Susan Harris, a teacher at Hill-Gustat Middle School in Highlands County, FL, participated in both the training flight and the flight with Professor Hawking, during which she served as a flight coach. Harris is recording and sharing her experience on the Hawking flight via a blog on the Zero-G site.

Said Steve Kohler, Executive Director of Space Florida, "We are proud to be a part of this unique event, as well as the sponsor of last night's pre-flight dinner and lecture by Prof. Hawking. Florida has been the aerospace leader in the past and through our partnerships with innovative companies like Zero-G, we will continue to be the global leader in space research, development, exploration and commerce.

The Sharper Image, who co-sponsored this flight, recently announced that it will be selling Zero-G flights commercially through its 187 retail locations nationwide. Individuals interested in purchasing seats can do so by visiting The Sharper Image stores or website, or by going to www.gozerog.com.

Prof. Hawking's best selling books, "A Brief History of Time" and "Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays" examines the basic laws, history and future of the universe. Hawking is known for his contributions to the fields of cosmology and quantum gravity, especially in the context of black holes. He has also made public his interest in experiencing weightlessness, and the importance of space as the next frontier for human population.

The Zero-G Experience consists of a brief training session for flyers (Zero-G passengers) followed by a 90-minute flight aboard G-FORCE ONE, during which parabolic maneuvers are performed. The controlled ascent and descent of the plane allows flyers to experience gravity on Mars (1/3-gravity); the moon (1/6- gravity); and in zero-g space. Since launching its service to the general public in September 2004, the company has conducted more than 100 weightless flights and flown more than 2,500 passengers, including celebrities and personalities, corporate charters, science and math teachers, and individuals age 12 to 85.

G-Force One is a specially-modified, 35-passenger Boeing 727-200, and The Zero-G ExperienceTM is the only FAA-approved weightless flight experience available to the general public. The weightless flights are similar to those conducted by NASA for more than 40 years to train its astronauts. Zero-G was recently granted FAA approval to fly individuals with disabilities. Zero-G operates under the highest safety standards as set by the FAA (Part-121) with its partner Amerijet International. Aircraft operations take place under the same regulations set for commercial passenger airlines.


Madon_space
Member

Posts: 667
From: uk
Registered: Sep 2002

posted 04-27-2007 01:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Madon_space   Click Here to Email Madon_space     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just like to say a big congratulations to Mr Hawkings for fulfilling one of his ambitions, this man never fails to inspire me.

He is an inspiration to us all.

------------------
Best Wishes
ROB
http://www.picturetrail.com/madon_space

dss65
Member

Posts: 1156
From: Sandpoint, ID, USA
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 04-28-2007 09:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dss65   Click Here to Email dss65     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
At the risk of sounding sappy or something, I just have to say that there's a kind of cosmic justice in this whole thing. I'm very happy for this genius and inspirational man.

------------------
Don

Rob Joyner
Member

Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 04-29-2007 12:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rob Joyner   Click Here to Email Rob Joyner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Don,
That's not sappy at all...
The look on Professor Hawking's face says it all!
Rob

Gilbert
Member

Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 04-30-2007 11:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Gilbert   Click Here to Email Gilbert     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hawking has to be one of the most inspirational people to have ever lived.
He is truly amazing.

GIlbert

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