Published in Midwest Flyer – June/July 2019 issue
ORLANDO, FLA. – To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the iconic Apollo 11 lunar landing on July 20, 1969, Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G) will partner with Space Florida to take fans of the cosmos where few have gone before. Taking off July 20, 2019 from Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility (formerly the NASA Shuttle Landing Facility) at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, ZERO-G will offer Apollo enthusiasts the chance to join an elite group of individuals who have experienced weightlessness high above the earth’s surface.
To mark the exciting occasion, flyers will take off alongside former astronaut Dan Barry on ZERO-G’s specially modified Boeing 727, G-FORCE ONE®. Before retiring from NASA in 2005, Barry took part in several missions, including three space flights, four spacewalks and two trips to the International Space Station.
Conjuring the curiosity of moon-bound astronauts in the past, the specialized anniversary flight will demonstrate the feeling of exploring the moon’s surface by recreating lunar gravity and allowing participants to float with the ease of carrying one-sixth their normal body weight.
Talented ZERO-G pilots will perform a series of parabolic arcs while flying in FAA-designated airspace. At the top of each arc, participants will soar through the plane in a floating playground, perform effortless tricks and flips and share a world known only by a small fraction of the population. The flight will also include several zero gravity and Martian gravity parabolas.
The historic Apollo 11 program paved the way for future research and development and opened the door to boundless discovery. Taking place exactly 50 years after the Lunar Module Eagle landed on the Moon, the unique flight opportunity is as close to landing on the moon as fans can get.
A limited number of tickets for this exclusive flight are now on sale to the general public. For ticket and flight information, visit (www.gozerog.com).
Space Florida was created to strengthen Florida’s position as the global leader in aerospace research, investment, exploration and commerce. As Florida’s aerospace and spaceport development authority, it is committed to attracting and expanding the next generation of space industry businesses. With its highly trained workforce, proven infrastructure and unparalleled record of achievement, Florida is the ideal location for aerospace businesses to thrive – and Space Florida is the perfect partner to help them succeed (www.spaceflorida.gov).
