A new rollercoaster is on the drawing board that will bring a space age experience to passengers.
How the zero gravity rollercoaster will look Image: Popski/Nick Kaloterakis |
The design of the coaster, by California-based BRC Imagination Arts, will not be a scream-inducing, life-shortening, psycho-thriller that turns your nerves to mush. Instead, the Zero Gravity coaster is designed to give riders the closest experience to out-of-this-world travel without the astronomical price tag (for the passengers at least).
Whichever theme park buys into BRC's idea, it will set them back an estimated $50m for the build. However, what they will be purchasing is an attraction different from any other coaster to date. Instead of wind-in-the-hair thrills of the world's fastest - currently the Ferrari Formula Rosso - or the terror of massively high or long rides like Kingda Ka in the US or Japan's Steel Dragon, the new coaster will be fully enclosed and designed to provide a new, relaxed experience.
Based on the principles of the aircraft used to train Nasa's Astronauts in experiencing up to 30 seconds of zero gravity - known affectionately as the 'Vomit Comet' - the new ride uses a similar parabolic curve. Speed is carefully controlled by linear induction motors to accelerate and decelerate just enough to induce weightlessness. The technology is so sophisticated that it will, according to the designers, calculate and allow for the exact mass and weight of each group of passengers to maximise the zero gravity experience - which will last for an estimated eight seconds.
BRC reckons the new ride could be in operation as early as 2013. So, for those without pockets deep enough to pay for a real space ride, start queueing now.