The laws of physics are clear. The attraction of bodies is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. In the Universe this law is marked by gravity.. There is no such thing as zero gravity. There is always some celestial body exerting some form of attraction, even thousands of kilometres away.
However, the images of the astronauts attract our attention and awaken our senses. free-floating inside a spaceship in which they are travelling. The immediate temptation is to think that there is no gravity in such an environment, but what they are really experiencing is a situation of constant free fallas does the spacecraft. As both (spacecraft and astronauts) move at the same speed and without being subjected to any force other than gravity, the sensation they perceive is one of weightlessness.
In the case of the ISS (International Space Station) the example is quite descriptive. The station travels at an average speed of 7.66 kilometres per second in orbit around the Earth at an approximate altitude of 400 kilometres. At this distance, the ISS is subjected to a gravity of 0.9 g (8.83 m/s²), which is 10% less than that on the Earth's surface. The astronaut inside the ISS moves at the same speed as the craft, but there is no difference in force between them, so the sensation is one of floating within that environment.
This is the same as experienced in the zero gravity" flights or parabolic flights. This is a flight technique in which an aircraft follows a path which, after a sharp climb, overlaps with a parabola which allows to simulate the effect of the absence of gravity for a few seconds (usually around 20 seconds). These flights are used to train astronauts or to conduct experiments in a weightless environment. They are also increasingly used for tourism or leisure purposes. For a small fee, anyone can sign up with companies such as Novespace, Zero-G Corporation or MiGFlug for a full programme of activities, culminating in several parabolas in a specially prepared aircraft, which will give you the same sensations as the astronauts on the ISS.
Without a doubt, it is a perfect combination of knowledge of the laws of physics, aeronautics and skill.
The number of companies offering such flights is increasing. The main ones space agencies already have agreements with several companies that carry out the parabolas. In addition, there are also other companies that carry out the same type of practices in order to facilitate an environment of research with no simulated gravity at a much more economical and immediate price than doing so using a space mission.
In this infographics we have compiled some interesting facts about "zero-gravity" flights that are sure to be of interest to you. Enjoy it and let us know your point of view.
Sources: Own elaboration, 2016.
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