Hawking floats on zero gravity flight

Updated 20.45 Fri Apr 27 2007

Keywords: Professor Stephen Hawking, space, world

Professor Stephen Hawking is a step closer to a trip into space after he experienced weightlessness on a special flight.

The theoretical physicist has been offered a seat on one of the first tourists trips into space and he proved his motor-neurone disease will not be a problem by boarding a plane known as the "vomit comet" which is used by Nasa to train astronauts.

"I could have gone on and on" - Professor Stephen Hawking

Professor Hawking has been confined to a wheelchair for nearly 40 years but he was laid on the floor of the cabin and gently floated around the cabin when the Boeing 727 dived towards Earth, simulating the effects of being in orbit.

He said: "The zero gravity part was wonderful and the higher gravity part was no problem, I could have gone on and on. Space, here I come."

The 65-year-old has written theories on black holes and some of the mysteries of the universe.

He believes the human race must explore space to secure its long-term future.