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Every American child grows up wanting to be an astronaut, a marine biologist, or a moderately successful magician. Today's deal lets you simulate one those dream-jobs. For $3,500, you can float, somersault, bounce, and fly in ZERO-G, the modified Boeing 747 that simulates the weightlessness of space, plus you get a video and photos to commemorate the experience, a combined $5,000 value. This deal gets you a seat on the October 31 ZERO-G flight.

ZERO-G makes parabolic flights that first increases g-forces, then changes angles so you can experience the weightlessness of space in 30-second increments.

One round simulates the gravitational pull of Mars—about 1/3 that of Earth—giving you the ability to break the all-time long-jump record (257 yards). Another round simulates moon gravity, enough to break the pole-vault record. After that, each round brings the euphoric wonderment of total weightlessness. Play with water globules, release M&Ms, and toss your giddy, uncontrollably giggling crewmates around the cabin. This sensation can only be had outside the stratosphere, inside Uncle Albert's house, or on a ZERO-G flight.

Before taking off, you'll be given a light breakfast and an orientation session. Then it's off to the fly zone for a pre-flight video and safety demonstration. You'll have a 30-minute flight to the right altitude, then unbuckle and float in 12 to 15 parabolic flights, totaling about eight minutes of weightlessness. After the flight, enjoy refreshments and bond over your experience with your wide-eyed compatriots at the regravitation celebration. You'll take home your flight suit along with photos and a video to preserve the memories of your buoyant, breathtaking day until the end of man.

Note: Please see ZERO-G's terms and conditions.

Reviews

In the Space Review, senior aerocomposite technician Gregory N. Cecil describes his experience in Zero-G as defying description:

• I’ve jumped off things, jumped out of planes 4,600 meters (15,000 feet) up, swam underwater, rode rollercoasters, and more, but nothing I’ve experienced can come close to describe what it’s like to float in microgravity. It was a once in a lifetime experience. – Gregory N. Cecil, Aerocomposite Technician, United Space Alliance

Mike Fahey describes his giddy ride on Kotaku:

• I might have been a giant goofy man in an ill-fitting blue jumpsuit, but that first journey into weightlessness was one of the most glorious moments in my life. Over the course of those weightless moments we attempted to drink water that was floating in clear globes through the cabin, released peanut M&Ms into the air for some odd reason, and played a game of catch with a human ball. All the goofy things you see people in zero-g do on the Discovery Channel, all of them amazingly entertaining in context. – Mike Fahey, Kotaku