Humans don't need to go to space to experience zero gravity.
The Zero Gravity Corporation, or simply "Zero-G," is the company behind "G-Force One," a special Boeing 727 aircraft that offers a zero gravity experience through parabolic flight.
For $7,500, flyers get 15 opportunities to experience weightlessness without leaving the Earth's atmosphere. Participants won't be deemed astronauts, but they'll be getting the same weightless experience that Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, and some of their passengers spent millions of dollars to get.
Read More: Winning bid for a seat on Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin spacecraft goes for $28 million
And with the newly-minted billionaire astronauts getting to experience only a few minutes in space, flying might offer a better value for money and longer time spent weightless.
Even Wally Funk was underwhelmed by how much time was spent in space. "I just wish it had been longer," Funk said.
Here's what it's like to experience zero gravity without going to space.
Ground-Force One might not look like a typical spaceship but if 2021 has taught us anything, you don't need a space shuttle or the Saturn V to be weightless.
This Boeing 727 is a former cargo plane that's been converted for Zero-G's unique mission. In addition to the zero gravity experience flights, the aircraft can also be used for astronaut training and scientific research.
Future SpaceX astronauts recently trained on the aircraft in preparation for a private trip into space.
Source: Space.com
Flyers also get to experience some aviation history by flying on the Boeing 727, an airliner that's been largely retired by the world's air carriers. This particular aircraft began flying in 1976.
But for the majority of flyers, it's all about the once-in-a-lifetime experience of being weightless while firmly within Earth's atmosphere. It doesn't require advanced training and flyers as young as eight can do it.
The window-less interior does look very much like the interior of a science fiction movie spaceship with padded white walls surrounding the cabin.
Most of the passenger seats have been removed for maximum room to float around while weightless.
The Boeing 727 then departs normally and heads to a designated area away from other aircraft. Pilots bring the plane to an altitude of 19,000 feet and flyers assume the required positions for zero gravity flight.
From their seats, flyers lay flat on the floor as their internal equilibriums adjust to the new attitudes. Pilots then pull back on the yoke and send the plane to around 35,000 feet at a rate of 26,000 feet per minute. Normal airliners climb at a fraction of that rate.
It's their equivalent of blasting off in a rocketship as 1.8 Gs weigh down on the aircraft. Passengers feel the pressure of almost double their body weight.
But once the pilots push the plane over, all weight is alleviated and passengers float into the air.
Parabolas last around two minutes and passengers only experience the weightless sensation for 30 seconds.
The 30 seconds, staff say, is more than enough time to have some fun. Passengers can float around the cabin and props like candy and water bottles are even brought onboard.
Plus, with 15 total parabolas, it's more time spent weightless than Jeff Bezos was able to achieve.
Varying levels of gravity are simulated include lunar gravity and martian gravity, including the full zero gravity experience.
And for those like Funk that prefer more room to spread out, private charters can be arranged.
What flyers won't get, however, is the pristine view of Earth that Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin passengers experienced. G-Force One has only a handful of windows, owing to its life as a former cargo freighter, and so views of the outside are quite limited.
Common maneuvers include spins, push-ups, flips, hand-stands, and break dancing, the crew told Insider.
Ground-Force One's nickname is the "vomit comet" but the company says that very few flyers actually get sick on the flight, and that motion sickness can be mitigated with a proper pre-flight diet of carbohydrates.
It might seem counterintuitive but at one experience, a spread of bagels and croissants were offered just before participants took flight.
Pilots up front know when weightlessness is achieved when a rubber duck in the cockpit starts floating. Strong seatbelts keep the flight crew from floating to the top of the cockpit.
Masks are required onboard the aircraft, as they are all aircraft, and COVID-19 rapid tests are now administered before each flight.
Flyers are also required to wear one-piece jumpsuits that are cleaned and shrink-wrapped.
And the whole time, a photographer is snapping Instagram-ready photos.
After returning to Earth, the last ritual of the flight for passengers is having their name tags turned the right way up. The crew intentionally distributes them upside down before the flight.
Ground Force One will be touring the US through December with coast-to-coast stops from New York to California.
It's not quite the same experience as earning astronaut wings but it'll cost a fraction of the price.
