As microgravity experiments using the aircraft, Japan Space Forum has offered the microgravity experiments opportunity since 1997 in the management of -space-related ground-based research activities- contracted to the National Space Development Agency. As the feature of microgravity experiments using aircraft 〇Micro-gravity environment below 10-2 G can be maintained for the longer time than the drop shaft by parabolic flight. (For about 20 seconds) 〇Repeated experiments are possible. (Eight-ten parabolic conditions can be obtained by one flight) 〇The investigator can operate and observe during flight experiments. For planning the experiment using aircraft, different planning from other facilities is required. The experiment to make the most use of the advantage peculiar to this facility is also required. Moreover, when harnessing these features in the maximum, We ask the investigators following consideration: (a) Safety The safety check of the experiment equipment and samples carried into the aircraft. (b) Intensity of experiment equipment The intensity check of the experiment equipment that bears the too heavy gravity acceleration generated before parabolic flights and after. Now, the ground-based research activities on space utilization, International Announcement of Opportunity, etc. are
also performed. Importance of microgravity experiments using the aircraft and the drop shaft facility has increased as preliminary experiments. We expect the research theme through the ground-based research activities will be developed to the theme using -kibo-, and the interest of investigators towards space utilization will increase in future.
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