Student spinning in zero gravity while aboard NASA's KC-135a 'Weightless Wonder'. NASA prefers this name to the 'Vomit Comet' for PR reasons. The purpose of the flight was to conduct a student reduced gravity experiment; however NASA gives everyone a chance to enjoy the weightless environment. This plane is used to train astronauts and to perform experiments that can only be done in microgravity. The plane has also been used to film the zero-g shots for the movie Apollo 13. The KC-135a has been retired and now resides at the Pima Air and Space open air museum in Tucson AZ. A C-9 is currently used as NASA's reduced gravity airplane.

The physics involved with reduced gravity flights and more can be found at:

www.plasmaben.com/zerog.html

I am now published! "In The Lab: Humor for Graduate Students in Engineering, Physics and Math and Those Who Suffer with Them"

http://www.amazon.com/Lab-Benjamin-Longmier/dp/1430322160/ (less info)