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Stefan experiences 0-gravity aboard KC-135

"I had the incredible and priceless opportunity to test some of our prototype Experiment Unique Equipment (EUE) designs and operational procedures in the unique weightless environment of NASA's KC-135, an aircraft capable of flying in large parabolic arc trajectories which temporarily "cancel" Earth's gravitational vector for about 35 seconds at a time. This airplane was used by the producers of the Apollo 13 movie to film the "Zero-g" sequences. In five flights, I experienced 170 such parabolic weightless periods, for a total of just under 100 minutes of microgravity. This is easily one of my most unusual and wonderful experiences!"

ARC Crew poses in front of
NASA KC-135
September '96 Preflight

Stefan prior to KC-135 Flight:
Red streamer reads
"Remove before flight"

The fast way into
the NASA KC-135

Stefan floating weightless
during KC-135 flight parabola

Stefan examining fluid behavior
in prototype kit vials during 0-g

Stefan lines up photo during
0-g phase of flight parabola

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