Air Zero G

The Airbus A300 Air Zero-g used by ESA, France’s CNES space agency, DLR German Aerospace Center and industrial customers to conduct research in repeated microgravity periods of up to 20 seconds. 

Parabolic flights treat passengers and experiments to a rollercoaster ride, flying angled at 49º 20 times per flight. They are used to conduct short-term scientific and technological investigations in microgravity and reduced gravity, to test instrumentation before use in space, to validate operational and experimental procedures, and to train astronauts for spaceflight.

The flights are managed by Novespace, a subsidiary of CNES. ESA typically conducts two parabolic campaigns a year. Scientists are invited to submit experiment proposals for review and selection.