Canada's National Research Council flies parabolas simulating spaceflight microgravity, for science. For a week in August 2023 it brought student researchers along for the ride through SEDS Canada and the Canadian Space Agency .
Teams of roughly 10 students each were involved, often representing multiple institutions. Pictured here in front of the NRC's Falcon 20 aircraft is Ghada Eldib, mission specialist for the University of Calgary's Graviteam. The NRC flight team performs standard cockpit checks before starting the takeoff. Pictured are Perry Comeau and Reagh Sherwood .
Each of the partners has specific roles in the flight. NRC has six airplanes and three helicopters for"all dimensions of research studying the science of flight and controlled flight," NRC's Derek Gowanlock, a research flight test engineer, told me before we took off.