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Parabolic flights
The Airbus A310 Zero G operated by CNES subsidiary Novespace is no ordinary aircraft. It recreates weightless conditions for 22 seconds at a time, so passengers can observe physical and physiological phenomena that are otherwise masked by gravity on the ground, only at much lower cost than in space. For example, scientists can study how the human heart works, analyse fluid properties or observe how a material behaves at high temperature. Such experiments serve to test out systems and equipment before sending them into space.
To create these weightless conditions, the A310 Zero G flies a series of 30 bell-shaped parabolic trajectories on each sortie. Specially fitted out for this type of flight, the aircraft is used by CNES for its parabolic flight programme, initiated in 1988. Every year, CNES conducts two parabolic flight campaigns, each comprising three flights. Each flight carries a dozen science and technology experiments. The A310 Zero G also flies parabolas simulating lunar and Martian gravity conditions to prepare for future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.
See also
Mission's news feed
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Masked campaign
Researchers take a group photo in front of the Air Zero G aircraft to mark the end of the 75th ESA parabolic flight campaign. The campaign was the third to take place under Covid-...
May 6, 2021
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Rollercoaster research landed, next flight: Moon and Mars
In November, over 60 researchers ran 11 experiments in an Airbus aircraft with no less than three pilots. This was no ordinary flight: the A310 'Air Zero G' flew in...
November 26, 2020
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2011 : Developing more accurate accelerometers
For the first time, a team of French physicists, supported by CNES and ESA, has succeeded in developing a vibration-resistant accelerometer. Tested in parabolic flight, the...
September 20, 2011