Harbinger of a Travel Craze: Zero G Travel || Jaunted

It's a trip in a specially adapted plane, during which the pilot dives in such a way that the forces of gravity are briefly cancelled out. It means you can float, like an astronaut in space, for around 30 seconds at a time.

In fact, it's one of the main training grounds for NASA's budding astronauts, who have to spend long periods of time in zero-gravity orbiting the earth.

Above, watch infamous British scientist Stephen Hawking. The look of ecstasy on his face tells you he's either finally found God, or he was a demon in the local theme park as a kid.

It's not an easy thing for anyone's physiology to take, never mind a man who has been fighting the muscle wasting disease ALS from the seat of his wheelchair for the last four decades. But the `vomit comet' aspect is exaggerated - only one person on my flight was sick, and he was a journalist--figures.

The 30 second bursts of zero-gravity aren't a problem either, just a lot of fun. You can float peacefully to the ceiling or perform Olympic-style acrobatics in the air. You can kiss your boyfriend upside-down or play ping-pong with your sister. The hardest part is actually the high-gravity section, when the plane pulls out of the dive and the gravity you experience nearly doubles. You know that feeling of flying and sinking, flying and sinking, that you get on roller coasters? It's like that, only stronger and longer.

But don't let that put you off. A flight costs around $3600 dollars at the moment, but it won't be long before the thrill-seeking trust fund carrying backpackers flood in and prices drop. After that? Don't be surprised if some wacky couple become the first to marry in zero-gravity. If you're my boyfriend, and you are reading this, yes that is a hint.

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· Zero Gravity Travel [gozerog]