I had the honor of flying in a special NASA air craft. NASA refers to this craft as KC-135. This is a specially equipped plane used for testing the effects of weightlessness on different science investigations as well as the human body.

I was with a college group that was performing different science experiments. My job was to take pictures during the flight. I failed in this assignment because I became involved in my own biological investigation. My investigation was not preplanned. It was a spontaneous reactions that I could not control nor stop.

While the craft has a special name used by NASA, some who have flown in this plane, including myself,  have dubbed it “The Vomit Comet.”

So what about the flight would cause nausea? Changes in G-forces.

Astronauts are shown bouncing around and turning somersaults in the plane.  Why don’t they get sick? Some do until their bodies get use to the G-forces.

Why don’t the flight crew get sick?
FYI: One of NASA’s flight crew told me that sometimes they do, but it is rare–the explanation was that their bodies get use to the changes in G-forces.

So what are G-forces? Find out more about the specific kind of G-force changes made during the flight.