First scientific flight for the Airbus Zero-G – Paris Match

The subsidiary of the French Space Agency (CNES) Novespace made its first flight with the Zero-G, a Airbus, which reproduces the conditions of weightlessness. This device will be dedicated solely to research.

“The flight went very well past! Everyone had the impression that it is more accurate, smoother and easier “than the previous aircraft, A300 was” run its course “after 18 years of dedicated service, welcomed Jean -François Clervoy, President Novespace and astronaut from the European Space Agency (ESA). Scientists have indeed been testing their new toy Tuesday, May 5: Zero-G (note: for zero gravity), a new Airbus A310, which will serve as a flying laboratory. It is “access to weightlessness in significantly lower cost than orbital flights,” said M.Clervoy on the tarmac of the base Merignac airport, near Bordeaux.

Ten minutes weightlessness by flying

Thus, researchers can fly “accumulated about ten minutes” on a flight, at a rate of 31 parabolas 22 seconds each. To do this, the aircraft pitched up to 47 degrees when it reaches the speed of 810 km / h. The engine thrust is then reduced greatly, so that all the forces are applied to the aircraft. “It is subject to its own weight and inside, all passengers and equipment experience true weightlessness, this is not a simulation,” said the astronaut. Unlike commercial flights, the Zero-G is controlled by three people simultaneously.

Zero-G has to arch 47 degrees to produce the effect of weightlessness. © AirZeroG

But why recreate weightlessness? “This allows to study the effects of small forces that exist on Earth but are masked by gravity,” says the Belgian Pletser Vladimir, head of parabolic flights of the European Space Agency. For many onboard experiments, the duration of weightlessness offered by the new aircraft is sufficient to produce usable results, making it unnecessary travel in space. Recall that it was the German company Luftwaffe who was the owner of the Zero-G for VIP use dedicated to the transport of the German Federal Chancellors.