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A
Two-Sister Team of Thailand Performed "Zero-Gravity Flight
Experiment" in Japan |
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In cooperation with NSTDA (National Science and Technology Development Agency of Thailand) and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Thai students participated in the "Zero-Gravity* Flight Experiment Contest"** organized by JAXA. This was the first challenge for students in the Asia-Pacific region to experience the "Zero-Gravity" flight as an international cooperation project. A proposal titled "Study of Medical Drug Dispersion under the
Microgravity Environment" was finally selected from 7 entries
in Thailand by the theme selection committee of NSTDA at the
end of December 2006. |
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 At the theme selection committee of NSTDA |
 Ms. Apaporn (left) and Ms. Sarunporn (right) Boonyarattaphan with Dr. Sawat Tantiphanwadi |
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| As the first step toward
the flight experiment in November 2006, Deputy Director of Technology
Management Center NSTDA Dr. Sawat Tantiphanwadi attended an interface
coordination meeting held in Japan in order to confirm required
interfaces between the experiment devices and the aircraft, the
possible interference and emergency and safety procedures.
As the second step in February 2007, Japanese engineers verified safety and feasibility of the experiment and confirmed the equipment of the sister team would function with some modifications at an interface verification meeting held at NSTDA. |
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 At the interface verification meeting in front of their experiment device |
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| Finally, on March 9 and 10, 2007, the experiment flight was conducted from Nagoya Airport in Japan. | ||||
 Gulfstream II (courtesy of Diamond Air Service Corp) |
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| Thai students flied together with Japanese students in Tokyo University and Gakushuin University. | ||||
 Thai and Japanese students before the flight |
 During the flight |
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During the flight, their experiment devices operated normally and the Thai sisters cheerfully returned to the airport after the experiment. The Thai sisters have published an excellent report about unexpected
results. |
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 Thai and Japanese students enjoying the conversation about their experiments (Ms. Saori Mizumura is the most left) |
 Ms. Apaporn explaining the experiment results just after the flight |
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We would like to introduce four comments, two from each manager
of this cooperation in Japan and Thailand and two from Japanese
and Thai students who participated in the micro-gravity flight
experiment: |
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 With all staff members after the flight |
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| *About 20 seconds of
Zero-gravity (weightlessness) can be made inside an aircraft flying
a parabolic maneuver. During one flight, about 10 opportunities
to conduct zero-gravity experiments (20 seconds each) are possible. **JAXA student zero-gravity experiment web-site ***Saint John International School Web site |
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