Zero Gravity Corporation
Encyclopedia
Zero Gravity Corporation (also known as ZERO-G) is an American company based in Vienna, Virginia
, formerly of Fort Lauderdale, Florida
, which operates weightless
flights from United States airports. Unlike NASA
, ZERO-G is governed under Part 121 of FAA
regulations (as are all US commercial passenger and cargo airlines) enabling the company to cater to both tourists and researchers alike.
, astronaut Byron K. Lichtenberg
, and NASA engineer Ray Cronise, the company has been operating weightless flights since 2004. A number of notable passengers have been on weightless flights run by the company, including Penn Jillette
and Teller
, Martha Stewart
, Burt Rutan
, Buzz Aldrin
, and John Carmack. Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking
also completed a shortened flight on April 26, 2007.
In April 2006, ZERO-G became the first commercial company to gain permission from the Kennedy Space Center
to use its space shuttle runway and landing facilities.
On April 21, 2007, it began regular flights from Las Vegas
for the general public at ticket prices of USD $3,675. Good Morning America
aired promotional footage featuring the show's weatherman Sam Champion
during a preview flight in Ohio
.
In March 2008, the company was acquired by Space Adventures
.
On December 9, 2007, Zero G hosted Adam Savage
and Jamie Hyneman
of MythBusters
to disprove the conspiracy that the Apollo Moon landing was a hoax.
The company owns and operates a Boeing 727-200, dubbed "G-FORCE ONE". It flies parabolic
arcs similar to those of NASA
's KC-135 Reduced gravity aircraft.
Fliers undergo a brief training session before embarking. A flight lasts 90 to 100 minutes, and consists of fifteen parabolas, each of which simulates about 30 seconds of reduced gravity: one that simulates Martian
gravity (one third of Earth's), two that simulate Lunar gravity (one sixth of Earth's), and 12 that simulate weightlessness. Each parabola begins with the aircraft climbing at a 45 degree angle at approximately 24000 feet (7,315.2 m), peaks at 32000 ft (9,753.6 m), and ends with the aircraft pointed down at a 30 degree angle.
Vienna, Virginia
Vienna is a town in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 15,687. Significantly more people live in zip codes with the Vienna postal addresses bordered approximately by Interstate 66 on the south, Interstate 495 on the east, Route 7 to...
, formerly of Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
, which operates weightless
Weightlessness
Weightlessness is the condition that exists for an object or person when they experience little or no acceleration except the acceleration that defines their inertial trajectory, or the trajectory of pure free-fall...
flights from United States airports. Unlike NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, ZERO-G is governed under Part 121 of FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
regulations (as are all US commercial passenger and cargo airlines) enabling the company to cater to both tourists and researchers alike.
History
Founded by entrepreneur Peter DiamandisPeter Diamandis
Dr. Peter H. Diamandis , of Greek immigrant parents, is considered a key figure in the development of the personal spaceflight industry, having created many space-related businesses or organizations...
, astronaut Byron K. Lichtenberg
Byron K. Lichtenberg
Byron Kurt Lichtenberg, Sc. D. is an American engineer and fighter pilot who flew aboard two NASA Space Shuttle missions as a Payload Specialist. In 1983, he and Ulf Merbold became the first Payload Specialists to fly on the shuttle.-Personal:Born February 19, 1948 in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania...
, and NASA engineer Ray Cronise, the company has been operating weightless flights since 2004. A number of notable passengers have been on weightless flights run by the company, including Penn Jillette
Penn Jillette
Penn Fraser Jillette is an American magician, comedian, illusionist, juggler, bassist and a best-selling author known for his work with fellow illusionist Teller in the team Penn & Teller, and advocacy of atheism, libertarian philosophy, free-market economics, and scientific skepticism.-Early...
and Teller
Teller (magician)
Teller is an American magician, illusionist, comedian, writer, and the frequently silent half of the comedy magic duo Penn & Teller, along with Penn Jillette. He legally changed his name from "Raymond Joseph Teller" to just "Teller"...
, Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart is an American business magnate, author, magazine publisher, and television personality. As founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, she has gained success through a variety of business ventures, encompassing publishing, broadcasting, and merchandising...
, Burt Rutan
Burt Rutan
Elbert Leander "Burt" Rutan is an American aerospace engineer noted for his originality in designing light, strong, unusual-looking, energy-efficient aircraft...
, Buzz Aldrin
Buzz Aldrin
Buzz Aldrin is an American mechanical engineer, retired United States Air Force pilot and astronaut who was the Lunar Module pilot on Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing in history...
, and John Carmack. Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking
Stephen William Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA is an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, whose scientific books and public appearances have made him an academic celebrity...
also completed a shortened flight on April 26, 2007.
In April 2006, ZERO-G became the first commercial company to gain permission from the Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
to use its space shuttle runway and landing facilities.
On April 21, 2007, it began regular flights from Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
for the general public at ticket prices of USD $3,675. Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
aired promotional footage featuring the show's weatherman Sam Champion
Sam Champion
Samuel James Champion is the weather anchor of ABC's Good Morning America and weather editor of ABC News.-Early life and education:...
during a preview flight in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
In March 2008, the company was acquired by Space Adventures
Space Adventures
Space Adventures, Ltd. is a Virginia, USA-based space tourism company founded in 1998 by Eric C. Anderson. , offerings include zero-gravity atmospheric flights, orbital spaceflights , and other spaceflight-related experiences including cosmonaut training, spacewalk training, and launch tours...
.
On December 9, 2007, Zero G hosted Adam Savage
Adam Savage
Adam Whitney Savage is an American industrial design and special effects designer/fabricator, actor, educator, and co-host of the Discovery Channel television series MythBusters. His model work has appeared in major films, including Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and The Matrix...
and Jamie Hyneman
Jamie Hyneman
James Franklin "Jamie" Hyneman is an American special effects expert, best known for being the co-host of the television series MythBusters. He is also the owner of M5 Industries, the special effects workshop where MythBusters is filmed...
of MythBusters
MythBusters
MythBusters is a science entertainment TV program created and produced by Beyond Television Productions for the Discovery Channel. The series is screened by numerous international broadcasters, including Discovery Channel Australia, Discovery Channel Latin America, Discovery Channel Canada, Quest...
to disprove the conspiracy that the Apollo Moon landing was a hoax.
Flight experience
The current price of a flight for a single passenger is USD $4,950 plus tax.The company owns and operates a Boeing 727-200, dubbed "G-FORCE ONE". It flies parabolic
Parabola
In mathematics, the parabola is a conic section, the intersection of a right circular conical surface and a plane parallel to a generating straight line of that surface...
arcs similar to those of NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's KC-135 Reduced gravity aircraft.
Fliers undergo a brief training session before embarking. A flight lasts 90 to 100 minutes, and consists of fifteen parabolas, each of which simulates about 30 seconds of reduced gravity: one that simulates Martian
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
gravity (one third of Earth's), two that simulate Lunar gravity (one sixth of Earth's), and 12 that simulate weightlessness. Each parabola begins with the aircraft climbing at a 45 degree angle at approximately 24000 feet (7,315.2 m), peaks at 32000 ft (9,753.6 m), and ends with the aircraft pointed down at a 30 degree angle.
Research flights for NASA
NASA has a microgravity services contract with ZERO-G, which provided the first flights under this contract on September 9 and 10, 2008. Flight time from Ellington Field near Johnson Space Center was provided for the FASTRACK Space Experiment Platform. The flights were funded by NASA’s Strategic Capabilities and Assets Program.External links
- Official site
- Farewell to Gravity (Wired article by Xeni JardinXeni JardinXeni Jardin is an American weblogger, digital media commentator, and tech culture journalist. She is known for her position as co-editor of the collaborative weblog Boing Boing, as a contributor to Wired magazine and Wired News, and as a correspondent for the National Public Radio show Day to Day...
) - Notes on Zero-G flight by John Carmack (September 26, 2004)