Parabolic Flight

Parabolic flight is a method used to simulate the microgravity environment experienced in space. An aircraft follows a specific flight path called a parabola, where it climbs steeply and then descends in a controlled manner. During the ascent and descent, passengers experience brief periods of weightlessness, similar to what astronauts feel in orbit. This technique allows scientists to conduct experiments and training in a zero-gravity-like setting without leaving Earth. The aircraft's jets are timed precisely to create these parabolic arcs, providing time intervals typically lasting about 20-30 seconds of free-fall.