Acceleration Profiles and Processing Methods for Parabolic Flight

TL;DR

This paper introduces a validated, open-source method for collecting and analyzing acceleration data during parabolic flights, enabling consistent classification of gravity phases to improve space research and testing.

Contribution

It presents a novel, orientation-independent, and repeatable approach for analyzing gravito-inertial accelerations during parabolic flights, with validated results using commercial accelerometers.

Findings

Validated method using a Boeing 727-200F flight with 20 parabolas.

All data and analysis code are freely available.

Provides a consistent approach for quantifying GIA levels.

Abstract

Parabolic flights provide cost-effective, time-limited access to "weightless" or reduced gravity conditions experienced in space or on planetary surfaces, e.g. the Moon or Mars. These flights facilitate fundamental research - from materials science to space biology - and testing/validation activities that support and complement infrequent and costly access to space. While parabolic flights have been conducted for decades, reference acceleration profiles and processing methods are not widely available - yet are critical for assessing the results of these activities. Here we present a method for collecting, analyzing, and classifying the altered gravity environments experienced during a parabolic flight. We validated this method using a commercially available accelerometer during a Boeing 727-200F flight with $20$ parabolas. All data and analysis code are freely available. Our solution can be easily integrated with a variety of experimental designs, does not depend upon accelerometer orientation, and allows for unsupervised and repeatable classification of all phases of flight, providing a consistent and open-source approach to quantifying gravito-intertial accelerations (GIA), or $g$ levels. As academic, governmental, and commercial use of space increases, data availability and validated processing methods will enable better planning, execution, and analysis of parabolic flight experiments, and thus, facilitate future space activities.