Combining zero gravity with robots performing surgery probably isn't the average person's idea of a fun time, but that's what scientists envisage as the future of the robo-surgery sphere. A NASA C-9 transport aircraft in a 34,000 feet dive towards New Mexico is to be the base for this test, which will compare a prototype robot's ability to cut and stitch with that of a human. Researchers from SRI International and the University of Cincinnati will make the judgment, although it's unclear what exactly the two competitors will be working on. To top things off, the robot surgeon in the sky will be remotely controlled from the ground: to that we can only say, "show offs."

It's not quite a ride on Branson's Virgin Galactic but Stephen Hawking is finally getting his chance to leave terra firma. The world famous theoretical physicist has hitched a ride with Zero-G on April 16th. The specially modified 727-200 will take off from the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The craft will perform a number of parabolic maneuvers in flight to create a Mars-like, moon-like, and zero-g gravity experience -- a flight lasting 90 minutes in total. A brief history of time, indeed. [Warning: PDF link]

[Via The Inquirer]

We're not really sure which is worse, that the future has already reached Japan, or that Japan has already out-designed everyone. Apparently yesterday there was a "spacewear fashion show" at the University of Tokyo's Hongo campus. A joint venture between Rocketplane Kistler, an American space tour company, and a group of Japanese fashion designers came together to create the "Hyper Space Couture Design Contest." The clothes selected will be used for Rocketplane's flights, which are slated to begin in 2008. While we don't exactly know what "spacewear" means, apparently one of the requirements is to be able to pack form and function into a zero-g outfit, "such as ruffles that expand under weightless conditions or small air-jet propulsions systems in the sleeves to help you change direction while floating." We still think that any of these outfits could be improved with a little Engadget logo stitched somewhere on there, but hey, we'll still take some small air-jet propulsion systems on our terrestrial outfits.

[Via Pink Tentacle]