Peter Diamandis on the bottom right

On April 26th 2007, famed astrophysicist Stephen Hawking experienced complete weightlessness making him the first person with a disability to have the experience. The historic trip also brings one of the most influential thinkers on the cosmos closer to the stars.

Zero-G the privately held “space entertainment and tourism” company was founded by Peter Diamandis (Pop!Tech 2005 Speaker). Zero-G and The Sharper Image sponsored Hawking’s trip embarked from the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Flights take place in a modified Boeing 727-200 aircraft.

When asked about the experience, Hawking said, “It was amazing. I could have gone on and on–space here I come!”

The Hawking flight was organized to benefit several charities.

Easter Seals
Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation
The X Prize Foundation
Augie’s Quest

Two seats aboard the flight were donated by Zero-G to each charity for them to auction off. All together the charities raised $144,000 dollars.

This trip on the Zero-G shuttle is in preparation for a hopeful space launch for Hawking on Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic which launches in 2009.

And if you have $3,500 to spare, you can reserve a seat in one of Zero-G’s upcoming flights.