The main difference between life sentence on the International Space Station ( ISS ) and life here on terra firma is microgravity , which forces you to float around rather than walk .
To fix newbie spaceman for such condition , NASA , or in this pillowcase , the European Space Agency ( ESA ) , takes new astronaut on special flights that are able-bodied to copy — albeit briefly — the space station ’s microgravity environment . The important grooming turn on the cosmonaut to get used to move , working , and even jumping in microgravity . If they get really good , they’ll be capable to dance , too .
ESA of late shared a fascinating video ( top ) showing what it ’s like to experience one of these so - call “ parabolic flight , ” which are a key part of an astronaut ’s grooming .
As the video appearance , the “ Air Zero G ” aircraft — an Airbus A310 — creates the term of weightlessness by climbing sharply for 20 seconds before shake off for 22 seconds . During this abbreviated but sharp descent , the trainee cosmonaut can float around the cabin , giving them some thought of what it ’ll be like aboard the ISS .
Each parabola takes about one arcminute to complete , with the process recapitulate 31 times in one flight of stairs to provide a total of about 10 minutes of zero gravitational force conditions .
The video shows ESA astronaut Rosemary Coogan go up aboard the aircraft for a parabolical flight . Prior to takeoff , Coogan pop the question a quick hitch of the airplane , which includes a small seating surface area where everyone lather in during the ascent and also the return part of the flying .
Beyond the seating area expanse is where the all the activity submit place . Cleared of seats , the large clear space leave astronauts and trainers plenty of room to move around , although loose floating is confine to a relatively little area surrounded by safety gauze .
What ’s it like to float in the melodic phrase ? “ It ’s hard to compare it to anything on Earth , ” says the donor . “ For me , the closest feeling might be floating in urine but without the resistivity or ability to steer yourself . ”
Another discussion section of the aircraft is throw over to investigator , providing them with a space where they can deport skill experiments in microgravity conditions without leaving Earth ’s atmospheric state .
While the period of lightness aboard the flight only lasts for a brief menstruation of time , astronauts on the ISS have to live in such microgravity conditions around the clock for months on last . To find oneself out more about what it ’s alike to exist in such an environment , check out these videosmade by the astronauts themselves during missions aboard the orbital outpost .
