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Author
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Topic: Vomit comets
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Matt T
Member Posts: 1368
From: Chester, Cheshire, UK
Registered: May 2001
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posted 05-22-2001 01:41 AM
   
Has anybody had experience of a zero-G parabolic curve flight, or 'vomit comet' as they're better known? I've been extremely keen to try this ever since I saw an article in Life about the Gargarin Astronaut Training centre outside Moscow. For $1,500 (or maybe it was £1,500) you get a half hour of parabolic flight, resulting in 30 second bursts of zero-G every minute or two. Sounds very cool, if a bit of a travel sickness nightmare.
So has anyone tried this, in Russia or anywhere else?
Matt |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 05-22-2001 12:01 PM
I have done it in my Cessna, but unfortunately it only last maybe 3 seconds at the most!  Not much room to float around in there anyway... Tom ------------------
"There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots"
--Some old bush pilot
My web pages:
Satellite imaging page
Kennedy Space Center Jan. 2001 |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 05-22-2001 02:39 PM
Hehe...our leader, Robert has taken the journey. Id like to hear too..what was it like? -Ben |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-22-2001 08:03 PM
There are really not many good words to describe my experience -- but falling upwards seems to be as close as one can come to inspiring an accurate understanding. One moment I was upright (as usual) and the next, my feet were above my head and I was flying! I flew in an Ilyushin 76MDK out of Star City in Russia. My trip was organized by Space Adventures, Ltd. (who I worked for at the time). It was certainly one of the most memorable moments of my entire life... one I hope to repeat in the not too distant future! |
paulR22
New Member Posts:
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Registered:
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posted 05-24-2001 03:51 AM
Hey guys,
I just received the latest copy of the Space Adventures catalogue a couple of weeks ago-and i decided that i have GOT to take the Zero-G trip!! But since i got my Computer in January, i've spent so much on books & memorabilia from the Net that i don't know how i'm ever going to catch up!! NO SELF DISCIPLINE!
Regards Paul Ward |
Mike Clennon
Member Posts: 42
From:
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 05-24-2001 05:43 AM
I've done it in my Cessna too. Once I over did it and the floor matts hit the ceiling. Thought I was about to die. |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 2331
From: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 05-24-2001 02:06 PM
I once did it in the plane where I didn't quite push over hard enough and nothing happened, then I pushed much harder - too hard - and EVERYTHING in the plane hit the ceiling! I had pens, notbooks, flight bags and just about everything else all over the cockpit after that. Good fun! ------------------
"There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots"
--Some old bush pilot
My web pages:
Satellite imaging page
Kennedy Space Center Jan. 2001 |
Dr. William R. Hanson
Member Posts: 150
From: Glens Falls, NY 12801
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 07-01-2001 01:40 AM
Early in fighter school they took us up in the trainer used by the Mercury astronauts to familiarize us with the feeling of weightlessness which is part of a pilot's normal day. Reason for this was to weed out thoise whose reactions were too violent, and who failed to recover almost instantly... wouldn't do for a pilot to be busy looking for the b..f bag in the middle of maneuvers in combat. Most of us went green or were moderately ill during/after the first or second whoop-de-doos and then got control of the situation, but some had a fresh reoccurance with each swoop, those I'm afraid were sent off for training in flying a desk.
In a modern jet fighter, even the Phantom II I flew in VietNam, a pilot may transition from zero-G to several Gs a number of times in a single minute during combat maneuvers, but you have to learn if you can cope with that situation before you're strapped into the narrow confines of a fighter cockpit with a foul-smelling mask strapped across your face, delivering even more foul-smelling oxygen. Doc |
Gort
New Member Posts:
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Registered:
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posted 07-05-2001 06:24 AM
Here is my first post on collectSpace.I had an opportunity to fly in the original KC-135 our of Houston back in 1995 as a member of a NASA Education team. We performed experiments to verify to accuracy of a new NASA Teacher Activty Guide on Microgravity (go to spacelink.nasa.gov and search for Microgravity). The experience was one I'll never forget. We flew over a four day period a total of 214 parabolas, amassing some 90 minutes of weightlessness. The first two days were difficult, as they don't call it the Vomit Comet for fun! Everyone carries several little white plastic bags in their jump suit, and since you are tasked to be responsible for everything you carry into the plane (including the contents of you stomach) you replace the bag into your flight suit pocket once it has been filled.
By day three we were becoming acclitmatized and day four was wonderful! The only medication I took was Dramamine, which I take when ever I might experience motion sickeness (I regularly take one before going to Disney or SIx Flags!)
Even though it was six years ago I can still feel some of the sensations. I best described as a frame widening experience, like when you see the IMAX movie 'To Fly' that starts with a little square of movie as the acrobatic plane flys around and suddenly widens to full frame. The view is the same but you see more. I have a little more empathy watching the astronauts in orbit because of it.
I've heard many good things about the Russian opportuity, and would recommend it only on the experience as I do not know firsthand about anything else they do with you. I understand there are a couple guys in California trying to start something up. If it happens, by all means do it! |
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