How do they simulate zero gravity for astronaut training?
We recently had the opportunity to learn about U.S. Space Camp, an educational/recreational program for children and adults, that features several simulators patterned after NASA’s actual training apparatus. The 1/6th Gravity Trainer reproduces the sensation of walking on the moon, where the gravitational pull is one-sixth that of the Earth; the Microgravity Wall uses hydraulics to simulate neutral buoyancy and the weightlessness of space; and the Five Degrees of Freedom trainer runs on air bearings to simulate the frictionless environment of space. While Space Camp works closely with NASA to create a vivid learning environment, it’s not a state-of-the-art training facility, so we boldly went to fin
