MicroGravity.com Introduction

Why Microgravity Research?

One of the most promising new areas for the
commercialization of space is in the field of
microgravity. Microgravity allows new materials to
be developed which can not be made on Earth due
to gravity. These new materials can be used to
speed up future computers, reduce pollution,
improve fiber optics, and enable medical break
throughs to cure diseases.

What is microgravity?

Microgravity, also called weightlessness or
zero gravity, is the absence of gravity. It
is bested illustrated by astronauts floating
in their spacecraft. They are floating
because they are in a microgravity
environment. Besides astronauts, many
people experience microgravity every day
by riding roller coasters or jumping off
diving boards. It is the "free fall" period of
these activities when the microgravity
occurs and of course only lasts for a short
period of time.

For research, microgravity is obtained by five methods.

1. Drop tower. The payload is simply dropped off the top of the tower and
allowed to fall. This can provide 2 seconds of microgravity at a cost of
pennies per pound.

2. Airplane flying parabolas. The semi-famous example is the NASA Vomit
Comet which is also used to train astronauts to work in a microgravity
environment. This method can provide 25 seconds of microgravity at a cost in
the range of a few dollars per pound.

3. Sounding rocket. The rocket goes up and comes down in the same general
vicinity, never getting into orbit. Todays sounding rockets can provide
between 3 to 9 minutes of microgravity at a cost of approximately $1,000,000
per launch and payloads weighing around 1000 pounds (which equates to
$1000 per pound).

4. Space Shuttle or International Space Station. Days of microgravity can be
achieved. The cost for putting a payload in orbit with the Space Shuttle is
$10,000 per pound. Once available, the estimated cost for having commercial
payloads on the International Space Station is $15,000 per pound (not
counting the $10,000 per pound to get it there on a launch vehicle such as
the Space Shuttle or the Russian Soyuz rocket).

5. Slowly spinning an object. This is not a true microgravity environment but
simulates microgravity in certain processes. Those process must have slow
reaction times such as many biological processes. The axis of rotation must be
parallel to the ground and only provides benefits in certain applications.

Take a coin. Toss it in the air. You have just subjected that coin to
microgravity. From the time it leaves your hand until it hits the ground (or
any solid object) it is experiencing microgravity. The time in microgravity
might be 1 to 2 seconds depending on how high you toss the coin. For
extended periods of time, on the of the methods described above will be
need.

While the current costs of achieving extended periods of time microgravity
are high, another major hinderance to microgravity research is getting
flights. There is a substantial backlog for flights on the Vomit Comet and
Space Shuttle. Researchers can wait years to get a flight. Flights on
todays sounding rockets have over a 12 month lead time. Additionally, the
Space Commercialization Act passed by the Unites States Congress in
1996 makes it ILLEGAL for NASA to fly commercial payloads on the Space
Shuttle or the Vomit Comet! Thefore, all researchers must submit their
experiments to NASA committies to determine which experiment are "good
science" and eligible for a NASA flight.

A truly exciting development in the area of microgravity is a new
commercial microgravity company called Zero Gravity Corporation. This
company has begun offering people the chance to experience 25 seconds
of microgravity via parabolic airplane flights. World famous physicist
Stephen Hawking recently experienced the freedom of microgravity on one
of these flights. www.GoZeroG.com has more information on the company
and Prof. Hawking's flight.