Stephen Hawking went weightless 8 times today aboard a Boeing 727. This is all in preparation for a future trip into orbit.

Thursday's flight served an initial test run to see if Hawking had the "Right Stuff" for an even more ambitious journey: a rocket-powered rise to the edge of outer space, perhaps aboard the spaceship now being developed for Virgin Galactic. That craft is due to enter service in 2009 or so, and taking such a flight would check off what Hawking has said is his "next goal."

Previously:
Stephen Hawking going weightless
Stephen Hawking Urges Us to Move to a New Planet