The normal force and air friction changes as the people are propelled into the air. As they are waiting to be released into the sky the normal force in substantially bigger than the factor of their weight. It remains large until there is some slack in the rope due to the capsule in mid flight. As the capsule reaches its tallest height the people inside of it experience a normal force of zero. Immediately the normal force around the riders begins to grow as the capsule travels back closer to earth.
Air friction is experienced by the riders too.
The faster they begin to climb the smaller the air friction becomes. As the the riders reach the highest possible height of the climb they experience a air friction force of zero similar to the normal force acting on them. Upon descent the air friction continues to grow again and the are slowed down to the compacting of atom particles.