THE Japanese government is planning to build two deep holes
vertically into the ground. The largest, 720 metres deep, will
be in a disused coal mine in the northern island of Hokkaido
and, from summer next year, you will be able to drop up to 1
tonne down the shaft for only 800 000 yen (about Pounds sterling
3000). The aim of this project is for researchers to be able to
carry out experiments that experience about 10 seconds of micro
gravity. The usual way to carry out such an experiment is to
blast it into orbit. It is much cheaper to drop it into a hole
in the ground, but it is far from certain that Japan's
scientists will fall for the scheme. The Ministry of
International Trade and Industry, which is running the project,
says the Japan Microgravity Centre will offer the world's
largest 'drop tower'. Capsules containing ... To continue
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