Apaporn and Sarunporn Boonyarattaphan demonstrate their scientific experiment.

Two sisters have won the chance to conduct scientific experiments in 'micro-gravity'.

Apaporn and Sarunporn Boonyaratta-phan will investigate the dispersal of pharmaceutical drugs at 30,000 feet aboard a Japanese aircraft designed for such exacting science.

Their proposal beat six others in the first Thailand Micro-gravity Experiment Con-test to win the opportunity to become the first Thai students to conduct such trials.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Thailand's National Science and Technology Development Agency held the contest.

It encourages students to create pilot projects. Last year the aerospace agency offered several spaces for students from Asia-Pacific countries and only Thailand met the criteria.

The sisters will do their work on a specially designed aeroplane which creates a micro-gravity environment by flying directly up for 20 seconds and then plunging straight down, creating weightlessness.

"During the 20 seconds the plane drops, micro-gravity conditions are created. The students quickly conduct their experiments before the plane goes up again," development agency boss Dr Sawat Tantiphanwadi explained.

Apaporn and Sarunporn will take 10 flights this week.

"On the flight passengers will feel like they are taking 10 rollercoaster rides without a break," he said.

"In the United States this type of flight is nicknamed the 'vomit comet'," he said.

But the sisters are not worried.

"I am excited; we love rollercoasters," said Sarunporn, of St John's International School.

The sisters are busy preparing their experiments for the 20-second bursts.

"The steps are so short. We have to get the drugs from syringes and into glass tubes and then record on video how they disperse," said Apaporn, a computer science student from Mahidol University International College.

Apaporn said the idea came to the pair simply: "At the time everyone in our family had a cold and had to have medicine. I wondered: would the medicine still work if we took it while in space?" Apaporn said.

Sawat hopes the experiment will deliver knowledge that can help in the manufacture of drugs for astronauts. "But what both of them do is inspire other students to create their own projects," Sawat said.

The scientist said this year's winner might have a chance to do testing in a new "drop shaft" lab in Japan, specially designed for micro-gravity experiments.

A rocket-shaped capsule loaded with experiments falls through a shaft, producing micro-gravity for 10 seconds.

Sawat believed the contest provided opportunities for students to develop scientific skills for future space-related developments. "We dream of training the first Thai mission specialist - a professional astronaut who can bring pride to the country," he added.

Chatrarat Kaewmorakot

The Nation