KC-135 flights for life science activities

The KC-135 Reduced Gravity Facility at the Johnson Space Center is a useful support facility for conducting brief zero gravity life science experiments, as well as for validating hardware designs and experimental protocols for more extensive shuttle-based experiments. This paper discusses the zero gravity capabilities of the aircraft, preparations for and conduct of the flight tests, and the procedures for requesting a flight. Several Ames Research Center experiments and procedure demonstrations are described. Finally, a crew perspective is presented that discusses the similarity of the KC-135-induced microgravity environment with that actually experienced in space.