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KC-135 flights for life science activities.
K Rossberg Walker1, M Hughes-Fulford, G Schmidt
1Mains Associates, Berkeley, CA, USA.
ASGSB Bulletin : Publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology
|October 1, 1992
Summary
The KC-135 Reduced Gravity Facility offers valuable support for short-duration microgravity life science experiments and hardware validation. Its capabilities closely mimic the space environment for effective research preparation.
Area of Science:
- Space science
- Life sciences research
- Microgravity research
Background:
- The Johnson Space Center's KC-135 aircraft serves as a Reduced Gravity Facility.
- This facility supports life science experiments and hardware validation for space missions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the zero gravity capabilities of the KC-135 aircraft.
- To outline flight test preparations, execution, and access procedures.
- To present examples of Ames Research Center experiments and crew experiences.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of the KC-135 aircraft's zero gravity capabilities.
- Description of flight test preparations and conduct.
- Explanation of procedures for requesting flight time.
- Presentation of Ames Research Center experiments and demonstrations.
Main Results:
- The KC-135 provides a valuable platform for brief microgravity experiments.
- The aircraft facilitates hardware design and protocol validation for space shuttle missions.
- Ames Research Center successfully conducted various experiments and demonstrations.
- Crew members reported a strong similarity between KC-135 microgravity and actual space conditions.
Conclusions:
- The KC-135 Reduced Gravity Facility is a critical resource for space life science research.
- It effectively simulates the microgravity environment, aiding in mission preparation and validation.
- The facility offers a practical means to test experiments and hardware before spaceflight.