UPC parabolic flight platform: providing inspiration

Abstract

Recent research undertaken by the joint venture led by the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, with its partners, the Aeroclub Barcelona-Sabadell and BAIE, Barcelona Aeronautics Space Association, has shown that it is possible and safe to obtain zero-gravity conditions for up to 8 seconds with single-engine aerobatic planes. The quality of the microgravity is comparable to that obtained by conventional parabolic flights. The main advantage of this technique is that a lower cost-to-time of microgravity ratio, during the parabola is obtained. Small life science experiments that require no more than this short period of time and cannot be run in drop towers, benefit from an easy access to the experimental platform. We present here how data of small medical experiments which had own with our platform are thereafter used for the first time as an educational tool. Students of our University also have the opportunity to design their own experiment, and actually build and fly it in zero gravity at Sabadell Airport (LELL, Spain), very near to our Faculty premises in Barcelona. Barcelona ZeroG Challenge is an international contest to which international student teams from any university worldwide can submit their experiments and the winner is entitled to fly with them. The contest is open to university students in its 3rd edition until January 2014.