First Middle East Aircraft Parabolic Flights for ISU Participant Experiments

Pletser, Vladimir; Frischauf, Norbert; Cohen, Dan; Foster, Matthew; Spannagel, Ruven; Szeszko, Adam; Laufer, Rene

doi:10.1007/s12217-017-9539-8

Original Article
Published: 16 February 2017

First Middle East Aircraft Parabolic Flights for ISU Participant Experiments

Vladimir Pletser ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-4884-3827^1,2,
Norbert Frischauf^1,3,
Dan Cohen^1,4,
Matthew Foster^1,5,
Ruven Spannagel^1,6,
Adam Szeszko^1,7 &
Rene Laufer^1,8,9

Microgravity Science and Technology volume 29, pages 209–219 (2017)Cite this article

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Abstract

Aircraft parabolic flights are widely used throughout the world to create microgravity environment for scientific and technology research, experiment rehearsal for space missions, and for astronaut training before space flights. As part of the Space Studies Program 2016 of the International Space University summer session at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, a series of aircraft parabolic flights were organized with a glider in support of departmental activities on ‘Artificial and Micro-gravity’ within the Space Sciences Department. Five flights were organized with manoeuvres including several parabolas with 5 to 6 s of weightlessness, bank turns with acceleration up to 2 g and disorientation inducing manoeuvres. Four demonstration experiments and two experiments proposed by SSP16 participants were performed during the flights by on board operators. This paper reports on the microgravity experiments conducted during these parabolic flights, the first conducted in the Middle East for science and pedagogical experiments.

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http://eea.spaceflight.esa.int/portal/

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Acknowledgements

These experiments were conducted under the auspice of the ISU SSP16 Space Sciences Department. The hospitality of the glider club of Megiddo and its members is thankfully acknowledged. The active contribution and flying expertise of Arnon Yaffee, the chief pilot is highly acknowledged. All subjects are thanked for their voluntary participation and their dedication. Mrs Laurie Goldstein and Mrs Maria Lucas-Rhimbassen are also thanked for their support as well as Prof. em. David Degani and Mr Ofer Lapid. Vladimir Pletser is supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Visiting Professorship for Senior International Scientists (Grant No. 2016VMA042).

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Authors and Affiliations

International Space University (ISU) 29th Space Studies Program 2016 (SSP16), Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City, Haifa, 3200003, Israel
Vladimir Pletser, Norbert Frischauf, Dan Cohen, Matthew Foster, Ruven Spannagel, Adam Szeszko & Rene Laufer
Technology and Engineering Centre for Space Utilization, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PITC-325-1, No 9 Dengzhuang South Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100094, China
Vladimir Pletser
SIGMA-7, Zwölfaxing, Austria
Norbert Frischauf
Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
Dan Cohen
McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Matthew Foster
German Aerospace Center (DLR), Bremen, Germany
Ruven Spannagel
Serco GmbH Deutschland, EUMETSAT, Darmstadt, Germany
Adam Szeszko
Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics and Engineering Research (CASPER), Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
Rene Laufer
Space Lab, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Rene Laufer

Authors

Vladimir Pletser
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Norbert Frischauf
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Dan Cohen
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Matthew Foster
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Ruven Spannagel
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Adam Szeszko
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Rene Laufer
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Correspondence to Vladimir Pletser.

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Pletser, V., Frischauf, N., Cohen, D. et al. First Middle East Aircraft Parabolic Flights for ISU Participant Experiments. Microgravity Sci. Technol. 29, 209–219 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-017-9539-8

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Received: 10 December 2016
Accepted: 02 February 2017
Published: 16 February 2017
Issue Date: June 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-017-9539-8

Keywords

Aircraft parabolic flights
Microgravity experiments
Grob G-103 Twin II glider
International Space University
First microgravity flights in Middle East