Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking suffers from a degenerative nerve disease that has turned him into a quadriplegic. He is able to speak only via a computerized voice synthesizer that he operates by batting his eyelids.
Posted on 03/01/2007 3:11:27 PM PST by COUNTrecount
British physicist Stephen Hawking, who is world-famous for his intellectual prowess as well as his physical frailty, has made a firm date with weightlessness on April 26, aboard a jet flying out of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Hawking's excellent adventure, provided by California-based Zero Gravity Corp., would represent one small step toward the 65-year-old scientist's goal of flying in space as early as 2009 — as well as one giant leap for people with disabilities.
"As someone who has studied gravity and black holes all of my life, I am excited to experience, firsthand, weightlessness and a zero-gravity environment," Hawking said Thursday in a written statement released by Zero Gravity. "I am thankful to Zero Gravity Corp. for making this experience available to the general public, especially for disabled individuals."
The zero-gravity airplane flight produces the feeling of weightlessness for about a half-minute at a time, by following a parabolic up-and-down path at an altitude of 30,000 feet. As the plane crests the top of the parabola, the passengers and other objects in the stripped-down, padded cabin essentially go into free-fall — floating in the air as if they were in orbit.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking suffers from a degenerative nerve disease that has turned him into a quadriplegic. He is able to speak only via a computerized voice synthesizer that he operates by batting his eyelids.
Hmmm That could be pretty tricky if he isn't restrained before the gs start setting back in. Potential for injuries.
Otherwise, good for him.
Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking suffers from a degenerative nerve disease..........
He suffers a lot more than that....
Just as well, he already claims to be souless.
He suffers from amyotrophic lateral schlerosis (ALS), also known as motor system disease, motor neuron disease, or Charcot's disease.
gonna ride the Vomit Comet... eat bananas
Naw, I'm gonna eat a package of Oreos and drink a quart of milk!
Either go hard, or go home! .......... FRegards
well, that's one way to make friends and influence people... 8^)
Jes tryin' to keep the conversation lively .......... FRegards:)
It seems to me he's had this for many, many years, and I thought those with ALS didn't live that long. Obviously I'm wrong.
i'm just thinkin about somebody getting hit full in the face by that load let alone having to clean it up... 8^) yuk
If he's British, his machine should have an accent.
:-o
It seems like most ALS victims last five years or less following the disease's onset, but Hawking has had it since about 1962.
And he has outlived life expectancy for ALS...by ALOT!!
Perhaps reinacting one of Einsteins famous thought experiments?
You the man!!
There really isn't any other way, if ya wanna enjoy the ride ........... FRegards
Don't tell the Pinellas County cops I said that ...
Chalk it down to his incredible will to live.
Thanks FH. I knew it had been a long time, but didn't realize it had been that long--45 years! Amazing!
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