"The Earth Sciences people want vertical profiles of the atmosphere -- all the way up and all the way down. They want to do it regularly over a period of time, say once a week for a year. That would be an incredible data set that could really help enormously in understanding global climate change issues, for example," Chu-Thielbar said. The program also has attracted scientists who have been conducting experiments during parabolic flights, which mimic microgravity with 20- to 30-second freefalls through the atmosphere aboard jet aircraft. "When we said (to a scientist) that he might get three to four minutes of microgravity, he lit up like a Christmas tree," Chu-Thielbar said. In addition to studies of Earth's atmosphere, scientists have proposed particle physics experiments, a genetics test, investigations to monitor the sun, an astrophysical experiment related to the theory of relativity, and several materials science exposure runs, NASA said. The proposals are being reviewed by an outside panel of experts and a decision about which projects will receive funding for additional study is expected around March. Related Links: How Stuff Works: Virgin Galactic |
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