A British startup has successfully provided a first-of-its-kind microgravity service using a drone.
The firm, called Gravitilab, flew its specially-modified LOUIS UAV quadcopter to an altitude of 2,000 feet (600 meters) before purposefully dropping a capsule carrying scientific experiments.
The drop caused the capsule's contents to experience weightlessness for roughly five seconds, according to a report from Space.com. During that time, sensors took readings of the scientific payloads.
UK firm uses drones for terrestrial microgravity testing
Scientists have long used ground-based drop towers to achieve weightlessness for a brief moment, allowing them to study particles and objects under the effects of microgravity. These towers have been used as an alternative for research organizations that do not have the funding to send their experiments up to the International Space Station (ISS). However, those drop towers typically only allow weightlessness for a few fractions of a second.
Gravitilab's technology offers researchers a longer observation time, opening up many new possibilities. The company conducted its flight from the Predannack military airfield in Cornwall in southwest England. It says its technology has the potential to "open the world of microgravity research to a new market."
We're proud to announce that we achieved a world first by successfully launching the first commercial microgravity service using our patented UAV technology at Predannack Airfield in Cornwallhttps://t.co/Iwlvnexw2Z#UKSpace #SpaceportCornwall #Microgravity pic.twitter.com/1O86k8qoIR
In a statement, Gravitilab CEO Rob Adlard said, "the only option for terrestrial microgravity testing [in Europe] until now has been to wait several years for access to a drop tower in Germany, which provides two seconds of microgravity. Our service can be delivered locally, is less expensive and as a result of our demonstration flight, we are on target to offer 5 to 20 seconds of high-quality microgravity using our LOUIS UAV system."
The UK's space industry is taking off
This could be a big year for the UK space industry. Last month, Virgin Orbit launched a rocket from a modified Boeing 747 last month, though the company failed in its attempt to perform the UK's first orbital launch.
