0:00:05 > 0:00:07This is Blue Peter, but mini.
0:00:07 > 0:00:13Expect epic adventures, makes, bakes, badges, pets,
0:00:13 > 0:00:15presenters, and your post.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18We've only got five minutes, so get ready for your Blue Peter adventure.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27Just like you,
0:00:27 > 0:00:31we've been gripped by Tim Peake's amazing six months up in space.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Hello, Barney, and hi to Blue Peter.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38But there is a way to experience a big part of life on board
0:00:38 > 0:00:40the International Space Station,
0:00:40 > 0:00:42without leaving the Earth's atmosphere.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46To do it, I've had to travel to France,
0:00:46 > 0:00:50because this special plane can recreate weightlessness.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54We've all seen Tim and other astronauts floating in space,
0:00:54 > 0:00:56but what causes this to happen?
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Well, it's all to do with falling.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Here comes the science.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08The Earth's gravity pulls everything towards its surface,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11including the International Space Station.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15But because the Space Station is travelling so fast
0:01:15 > 0:01:18around our planet, its fall matches the curve of the Earth,
0:01:18 > 0:01:21and that's what stops it dropping to the ground.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25Just like the Space Station, the astronauts inside are falling
0:01:25 > 0:01:28at the same speed, and this makes everything appear to float.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32And that's where this plane comes in.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36It's going to perform a series of steep climbs and descents.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40Every time the plane goes over the peak of the curve,
0:01:40 > 0:01:42everyone and everything on board will start to float,
0:01:42 > 0:01:44just like Tim does.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50From the outside, it looks like any other plane.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Just like on the inside.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Until you realise that the other half of the plane
0:01:55 > 0:01:57is a massive, padded room.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01And it's through there that I'll get to experience weightlessness.
0:02:01 > 0:02:02I am so excited.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07But before I get to fly, there's some important work to do.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12Weightlessness can cause big changes to astronauts and their kit,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15so this plane is used to find out how space affects them.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19So, I'm going to be joined by this group of scientists,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22who are all busy preparing all the experiments that they need to
0:02:22 > 0:02:24take up and test during the fight.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28Ulrich's team are the only ones on board who are going to be
0:02:28 > 0:02:32conducting a test on the human body during the flight.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35- Yeah, we are doing an experiment on the heart.- Ah.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39Because the heart and the vessels do not work the same way in space
0:02:39 > 0:02:42as they do on ground.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45Cristina's team are testing a new robot.
0:02:45 > 0:02:51We'll take soil from an asteroid, and put it into a canister.
0:02:51 > 0:02:57So the scientists can bring the canister back to Earth to study it.
0:02:58 > 0:02:59With the experiments prepped,
0:02:59 > 0:03:03it's time for us to begin the ride of our lives.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08As soon as we are up in the air, we start to get into position
0:03:08 > 0:03:12and lie down in the padded area of the plane.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14You can feel the excitement in here.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16I really don't know what to expect, but...
0:03:18 > 0:03:20This is just going to be amazing.
0:03:22 > 0:03:23The time has arrived.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27The scientists are ready and the plane begins its steep climb.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31Oh, my heart. You would not believe how fast it's beating.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Oh, wow. Oh, I feel heavy.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36'And then we start to drop.'
0:03:36 > 0:03:38Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41Oh, wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow!
0:03:41 > 0:03:43I'm starting to float.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48'I had no idea what to expect, but this is utterly incredible!'
0:03:48 > 0:03:53Whoa! I'm floating! Oh, my goodness! What do I do?
0:03:53 > 0:03:55This is the most amazing...
0:03:56 > 0:04:00I'm floating! This is the weirdest feeling!
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Oh, wow!
0:04:03 > 0:04:06That was the most...bizarre feeling of my life.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09'On my next go, I start to get the hang of it,
0:04:09 > 0:04:11'with a bit of help from the team on board.'
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Let's walk on the ceiling.
0:04:15 > 0:04:16Whoa! Look at this!
0:04:16 > 0:04:18I'm walking on the ceiling.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20Waah!
0:04:21 > 0:04:22Can I do a flip?
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Waah!
0:04:24 > 0:04:25SHE LAUGHS
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Oh, my goodness!
0:04:29 > 0:04:33This is the most ridiculous feeling of my life!
0:04:33 > 0:04:35Aaah!
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Whoo! OK, going to try and swim.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41Whoo!
0:04:41 > 0:04:44'It's so fun. But it doesn't last forever.'
0:04:44 > 0:04:45Oh, dear. Oh!
0:04:45 > 0:04:46SHE LAUGHS
0:04:46 > 0:04:50Each period of weightlessness lasts around 25 seconds -
0:04:50 > 0:04:53just enough time for the scientists to carry out their experiments.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56- It's going really great.- Uh-huh? - It's good. We get good images,
0:04:56 > 0:04:57from the ultrasound.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01- So you're happy with all the results so far?- Yeah, really happy.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05- Very stressed doing science with weightlessness.- Yeah, I bet!
0:05:05 > 0:05:07- But are you having fun? - A lot of fun.
0:05:07 > 0:05:08Oh, you're going over there.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11- You have no choice where you go, do you?- I'm sorry.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17'But they're not the only ones with highly scientific experiments to do.
0:05:17 > 0:05:18'I got a few of my own.'
0:05:19 > 0:05:21First up, floating the badge...
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Whoa!
0:05:23 > 0:05:25'..tying my shoelaces...'
0:05:25 > 0:05:28I've got to try and put it on. Haven't got long to do it.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31I got the shoe on, now I've got to do my laces!
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Ah! How does Tim Peake do this?
0:05:33 > 0:05:36Ah! I can't do my laces!
0:05:39 > 0:05:41'How about floating on a magic carpet?'
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Whoo! 'Aladdin made this look really easy.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50'And what about brushing my hair?
0:05:52 > 0:05:54'That's my scientific experiments almost done.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58'But there's one last thing I've always wanted to try.'
0:05:58 > 0:05:59I'm flying!
0:05:59 > 0:06:01I'm a superhero!
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Do you know what, that was just the most incredible experience
0:06:12 > 0:06:14I think I've ever had in my life.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16And to think that I got to see just what it's like for Tim Peake
0:06:16 > 0:06:19to live, work, and do everything that he does up in space,
0:06:19 > 0:06:20is phenomenal.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22I want to go again!
0:06:23 > 0:06:25Join in every Thursday on CBBC.