The fourth minute of microgravity data lasts only 45 seconds, due to re-entry into Earth s atmosphere. Thirty microgravity parabolas were performed during the flight. For each of the microgravity segments, the activity level between the horizontal and vertical groups was significantly different. However, the activity level between these two position groups was not different during level flight before or after the parabolas. Activity level for male fruit flies during segments of the KC-135 flight.
Error bars indicate standard error.
Level flight before and after lasted 9.6 minutes and 24.6 minutes, respectively. Each parabola lasts 20-25 seconds. However, a significant increase in activity was not observed until after 20 parabolas for the horizontally oriented group. As with the males, the activity level between the horizontal and vertical groups is statistically different during microgravity, but not during level flight either before or after the parabolas. The male and female activity patterns are similar in that the activity level increases throughout the flight with the maximum occurring during the last set of parabolas.