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Hawking to Take Zero Gravity Ride

Posted by Zonk on from the i'm-the-mighty-stephen-hawking dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Well-known cosmologist Stephen Hawking is preparing for a once-in a lifetime trip. His goals are for even higher ground, but right now he's readying for an April zero gravity ride aboard NASA's 'vomit comet'. His ultimate goal is to take a ride on one of Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic flights, and this is a 'test run' for that more rigorous experience. Though complex math ain't no thing for Dr. Hawking, his interests here are purely inspirational. 'Hawking says he wants to encourage public interest in spaceflight, which he believes is critical to the future of humanity. "I also want to show," he said in an e-mail interview, "that people need not be limited by physical handicaps as long as they are not disabled in spirit."'"

9 of 127 comments (clear)

  1. fp by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    only problem is the vomit comit doesn't have a handicapped accessable bathroom

  2. Does this mean its open to everyone? by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does this mean that anyone can get to go for a ride?
    I was under the impression you had to have a certain level of fitness and stamina.

    I also cannot get the thought of the south park kid shouting "Timmmeh!" whilst riding the shuttle.

    --
    liqbase :: faster than paper
    1. Re:Does this mean its open to everyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Grammar ewe do not no. Eye here that we lowered standards hare in America and ewe are the result.

  3. Queue the... by chris_eineke · · Score: 2, Funny

    ion-booster propelled wheelchair jokes in 5...
    4...
    3...
    2...
    1...
    IGNITION! ;)

    --
    "All you have to do is be fragile and grateful. So stay the underdog." Chuck Palahniuk, Choke
  4. Obligatory Futurama by evil+agent · · Score: 4, Funny

    Fry: Stephen Hawking! Aren't you the guy who invented gravity?
    Hawking: Sure, why not.

    --
    End transmission.
  5. Re:is Hawking a real physicist? by aussie_a · · Score: 2, Funny

    Its got less letters he has to type. I wouldn't be surprised if it was actually "0 g" he typed.

    Stephen Hawking, using 1337speak.

  6. If he doesn't enjoy the ride... by gemada · · Score: 2, Funny

    In space, he will be able to throw his chair

  7. Re:is Hawking a real physicist? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Uh, not to be picky, but my work chair doesn't have arms.

  8. Re:is Hawking a real physicist? by Prof.Phreak · · Score: 4, Funny

    is Hawking a real physicist?

    Either that, or his voicebox computer is the first instance of AI.

    --

    "If anything can go wrong, it will." - Murphy