‘First instinct is to swim’: my trip on a zero-gravity flight with an Esa astronaut

The sensation of weightlessness is extraordinary as I join Rosemary Coogan for a breathtaking glimpse of life in space

It feels as if I’m hallucinating: as I lie on the floor, the ceiling suddenly sinks towards me and the walls begin to tilt at an impossible angle. It is my first experience of zero gravity on an European Space Agency (Esa) parabolic flight. In theory I know what is going on, but my brain just cannot grasp that it is actually me that is floating, that I’m suspended midair.

I am accompanying Britain’s first female Esa astronaut, Rosemary Coogan, on the flight as part of her zero gravity training for a potential six-month deployment to the International Space Station. During the three-hour flight, sometimes referred to as the vomit comet, the plane will trace out 31 parabolas – soaring arcs in the sky.

Topics

When horror hits China, the first instinct is shut it down
Top stories - BBC News - 3 days ago
Astronauts decline to answer questions about post-flight medical issue
Top stories - CBS News - November 8
It Was Love After First Flight
Lifestyle - The New York Times - October 18
'Dartford Crossing trips ended with bailiffs at my door'
Top stories - BBC News - November 6
James Cleverly spent £655 a head on in-flight catering for one-day trip to Rwanda
World - The Guardian - October 21
Indonesia’s president seeks closer ties to Xi and China
World - Financial Times - November 8
Singapore Airlines will add first class, revamp cabins for longest flights
Business - CNBC - November 4
‘They tried to rob us’: Georgia stun No 1 Texas on first trip to Austin since 1958
World - The Guardian - October 20

Latest in World

Australia v Pakistan: second Twenty20 international – live
World - The Guardian - 5 minutes ago
Operation False Target: How Russia plotted to mix a deadly new weapon among decoy drones in Ukraine
World - ABC News - 7 minutes ago
Investigation reveals a Russian factory's plan to mix decoys with a new deadly weapon in Ukraine
World - ABC News - 7 minutes ago
Middle East crisis live: Israel strikes Beirut after evacuation call
World - The Guardian - 12 minutes ago
Graphic video from Sweden falsely shared as 'Israeli police beating Palestinian child'
World - Yahoo News - 32 minutes ago

‘First instinct is to swim’: my trip on a zero-gravity flight with an Esa astronaut

Topics

Related

When horror hits China, the first instinct is shut it down

Astronauts decline to answer questions about post-flight medical issue

It Was Love After First Flight

'Dartford Crossing trips ended with bailiffs at my door'

James Cleverly spent £655 a head on in-flight catering for one-day trip to Rwanda

Indonesia’s president seeks closer ties to Xi and China

Singapore Airlines will add first class, revamp cabins for longest flights

‘They tried to rob us’: Georgia stun No 1 Texas on first trip to Austin since 1958

More from The Guardian

Two Trump cabinet choices in jeopardy over sexual misconduct allegations

Middle East crisis live: Israel strikes Beirut after evacuation call

Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says war will ‘end sooner’ once Trump enters White House

Jake Paul beats Mike Tyson in manufactured mismatch as Father Time comes calling

Pelicot trial: young vineyard worker proposed drugging and raping his own mother

Latest in World

Australia v Pakistan: second Twenty20 international – live

Operation False Target: How Russia plotted to mix a deadly new weapon among decoy drones in Ukraine

Investigation reveals a Russian factory's plan to mix decoys with a new deadly weapon in Ukraine

Middle East crisis live: Israel strikes Beirut after evacuation call

Graphic video from Sweden falsely shared as 'Israeli police beating Palestinian child'