posted 02-18-2014 09:24 AM               

Kate Upton Defies Gravity While Flying With ZERO-G For Sports Illustrated's 50th Swimsuit Issue

Kate Upton and Sports Illustrated (SI) have taken swimsuit modeling where it's never gone before. Flying with Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G), Upton flipped, floated and modeled in true weightlessness – as if in outer space – for SI's 50th anniversary Swimsuit issue.

SI's landmark Swimsuit Production hit newsstands today, complete with a major package, Upton, floating in zero gravity. For Upton, who appeared on SI's swimsuit covers in 2012 and 2013, her weightless shoot was a way to bring modeling to new heights.

The shoot took place on March 18, 2013; Upton and ZERO-G flew out of Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville, Florida. A specially modified Boeing-727, known as G-FORCE ONE, performed a series of 17 parabolas – 13 zero gravity and four replicating lunar gravity – as Upton bounced and soared through the plane for the cameras. Upton's weightless experience was not simulated; ZERO-G is the first and only FAA-approved provider of commercial weightless airline flights for the public.

"The ZERO-G experience was really exhilarating for everyone involved," said MJ Day, editor of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. "We have been almost everywhere in the past 50 years with SI Swimsuit, but we have never done anything like this. It was certainly the most out-of-the-box shoot. Once again, Kate surprised us all with how she handled modeling in weightlessness.

Visit swimsuit.si.com for behind-the-scenes video and photos of Kate Upton's zero gravity shoot.

posted 02-18-2014 09:31 AM               

Still... the possibilities of weightlessness are there for the ingenious to exploit. No need to carry bras into space, that's for sure. Imagine a spacecraft of the future, with a crew of a thousand ladies, off to Alpha Centauri, with two thousand breasts bobbing beautifully and quivering delightfully in response to their every weightless movement... and I am the commander of the craft, and it is Saturday morning and time for inspection, naturally...

posted 02-18-2014 09:41 AM               

"The ZERO-G experience was really exhilarating for everyone involved," said MJ Day, editor of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

By the way, where was the pool?

Anyway, if you want to boost investment in "space tourism" (and no, I will not go where you'd like me to go), that's the way to do it! (again!)

And on a far, far less joyful note, the quote from Mr. Collins reminds me of why some "humans" blow themselves up for their "causes" in some regions of the world (or on 9/11).

posted 02-18-2014 01:53 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Comparing his account and terrorist acts is taking it a bit too far, I think. Maybe I have done a disservice to Collins by excerpting his quote, as in its context within the book it is just one thought among a string of events.

---

posted 02-18-2014 02:54 PM               

In the past the plane has been used to film footage for the Biggest Loser, Rebel Billionaire, The Apprentice, The Martha Stewart Show, Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel Live and most notably to offer famed physicist and gravity expert Stephen Hawking a once in a lifetime chance to float free of his wheelchair. Lenovo and 7 UP have also used footage from the plane in advertising campaigns. (There are just the shoots I can remember off the top of my head).