Where is the Best Zero Gravity Experience? It's Mr. Kalatraz's Birthday!
May 15, 2015 12:03 PM   Subscribe

Mr. Kalatraz always wanted to be an astronaut and it's not looking good for that. He's still fascinating by the whole zero gravity thing, so for his upcoming landmark birthday, I'd like for him to have a genuine zero gravity experience. I know nothing about said experiences. We are in the Midwestern US but will travel domestically. Can you help, mefites?
posted by Kalatraz to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (13 answers total) 6 users marked this as a favorite
 
There's a touring "vomit comet" that goes to various cities. I think it's around $5000 a ride.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 12:09 PM on May 15, 2015


Found the website!
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 12:10 PM on May 15, 2015


Zero Gravity Corporation looks like your only option. Schedule is at the link.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 12:10 PM on May 15, 2015 [2 favorites]


Tangentially, there is Space Camp for Adults!
posted by advicepig at 12:24 PM on May 15, 2015 [2 favorites]


You can also experience free fall with a parachute jump, and more briefly with a bungee jump.
posted by alms at 12:28 PM on May 15, 2015 [1 favorite]


I don't know if it'd be close enough to zero gravity, but if a $5000 flight is too much for you, perhaps indoor skydiving tunnels would do the trick. Each flight last about a minute, but you can book two flights back to back, and it would still be less expensive. Granted, it's not gravity-free, but there is the bonus that you don't have to worry if you're one of the people that will get sick mid-flight, and it would last longer than a parachute jump.
posted by dawg-proud at 12:56 PM on May 15, 2015 [1 favorite]


Roller Coaster enthusiasts refer to this as "air time". The best way to get it is to sit in the back seat of a roller coaster train, and you'll feel it as you go over the top of a big hill.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:37 PM on May 15, 2015


Probably out of your price range and possibly out of the realm of possibility at this stage, but: Virgin Galactic
posted by cmoj at 1:41 PM on May 15, 2015


If you get on the Zero G email list, you will occasionally see emails for offers of cheaper flights. I think sometimes they do deals for around $4000 instead of the usual $5000 price.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 3:08 PM on May 15, 2015


Not sure where you're at, but my husband and I had a great time with indoor skydiving. See https://chicago.iflyworld.com/ (there are several cities).
posted by Joleta at 8:12 PM on May 15, 2015


Properly weighted scuba diving is as close as one gets to weightlessness for the price. Hell, astronauts are using this for training. Also, you get to fly around. Would he be interested in something like this?
posted by Parsnip at 3:47 AM on May 16, 2015


Response by poster: Threadsit: You all are awesome! Yeah, $5K is *cough cough* well outside of what I have budgeted for, well, anything ever. These are great ideas. Mr. Kalatraz does love to scuba dive when he has the chance! I thought there were smaller planes that did the zero g thing but I must have been mistaken. Something here should work fine tho!
posted by Kalatraz at 10:09 AM on May 18, 2015


Regarding bungee jumping: I did the 111 meter jump at Victoria Falls. When I jumped I was surprised that I didn't feel like I was falling. I felt like I was floating. I'd never experienced free fall before. It was just a couple of seconds before the bungee cord started to pull, but it was a wonderful couple of seconds.
posted by alms at 10:29 AM on May 19, 2015


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