French doctors beat gravity

In an exhilarating incident, a team of French doctors succesfully performed the first ever zero gravity surgery. They created roller coaster like parabolas, and the aircraft soared and dived to create weightless conditions.

Flying above southwest France, the five member medical team created history by performing the world's first ever operation in zero gravity.

Three surgeons, two anesthetists, a cameraman along with the volunteer were aboard the specially modified, Airbus 300 Zero G aircraft to perform this feat.

Though the flight lasted for three hours, it only took about 10 minutes for the completion of the surgery, the same time it would have taken for a surgery on Earth.

The surgery was performed in 32 sequences, as zero gravity can only be created for a few seconds at a stretch. The aircraft took a roller coaster ride, i.e. it flew upwards and then fell freely in between each sequence to create weightless conditions that lasted for 22 seconds each time.

The specially modified airbus kept surgical instruments in place with the help of magnets, while the doctors and patient were strapped into their positions.

Philippe Sanchot, 46, volunteered for the exciting adventure. Being an avid bungee jumper he was aware of the shocks of gravity. Sanchot operated upon for a tumor in his arm. He was given local anasthesia and remained awake throughout the operation. At the completion of the surgery Sanchot said, “I'm just a little tired, but it's because my head is spinning.”

The first of its kind surgery paves way for surgery on astronauts in space, thereby handling medical emergency on the international space station. Steps are being taken to enable such surgeries through robots controlled from ground.

Dr. Dominique Martin, medical team leader, elated with the success of the surgery said, “The surgery went exactly as we had expected.”

Exceptional photography adorned the extraordinary trip. Dominique Martin, Professor said, “We finalized simple things which allowed us to operate in a space context, a little bit like an operation on earth. When you'll see the pictures it seems that the surgeons are operating normally with the exception that you will see things floating and then you realize that something is happening.”