[whataretheysaying] Mary Madigan: Not disabled in spirit

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Posted by Mary Madigan:
Not disabled in spirit
http://whataretheysaying.powerblogs.com/posts/1172783199.shtml


   Via the [1]NY Times *

     In a warm-up for a trip to space, Stephen Hawking is to take a
     zero-gravity flight on a plane in April.

     On April 26, Dr. Hawking, surrounded by a medical entourage, is to
     take a zero-gravity ride out of Cape Canaveral on a so-called vomit
     comet, a padded aircraft that flies a roller-coaster trajectory to
     produce periods of weightlessness. He is getting his lift gratis,
     from the Zero Gravity Corporation, which has been flying thrill
     seekers on a special Boeing 727-200 since 2004 at $3,500 a trip.

     Peter H. Diamandis, chief executive of Zero G, said that âthe idea
     of giving the worldâs expert on gravity the opportunity to
     experience zero gravityâ was irresistible.

     In some ways, this is only a prelude. Dr. Hawking announced on his
     65th birthday, in January, that he hoped to take a longer, higher
     flight in 2009 on a space plane being developed by Richard
     Bransonâs company Virgin Galactic, which seeks to take six
     passengers to an altitude of 70 miles.

     Dr. Hawking says he wants to encourage public interest in
     spaceflight, which he believes is critical to the future of
     humanity.

     âI also want to show,â he said in an e-mail interview, âthat people
     need not be limited by physical handicaps as long as they are not
     disabled in spirit.â

     Coming at a time when human spaceflight is at a crossroads, his
     trip into space is likely to shine a giant light on the burgeoning
     and hopeful industry of space tourism.

   * Space news (as always) thanks to Bruce

References

   1. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/01/science/01hawking.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin