ROL NEWS--Former NASA Astronaut to speak at First International Spaceflight Symposium

Former NASA Astronaut to speak at First International Spaceflight Symposium September 14, 2005 Web posted at: 12:47 PM EDT

Santa Monica, CA (ROL Newswire) -- The First International Symposium on Personal Spaceflight is scheduled for 8 AM ­ 4:30 PM, Thursday, October 6, 2005 in the Corbett Center Student Union at New Mexico State University. The symposium is hosted by the NMSU College of Engineering and organized through a partnership with the X PRIZE Foundation. It will be the first official event scheduled as part of the Countdown to the X PRIZE CUP, a series of high-profile events from October 6-9 that will set the stage for the 2006 X PRIZE CUP.

The inaugural symposium will focus on the practical and commercial aspects of space travel and will be sponsored by Arianespace. ³As the world¹s first commercial space launch company, Arianespace is proud to be a sponsor of the X PRIZE CUP,² stated Clayton Mowry, President of Arianespace¹s US affiliate ³Already, the X PRIZE CUP is the driving force for innovative space tourism ventures that will one day revolutionize human access to space and we relish the opportunity to be a part of this revolution.² Mr. Mowry will also attend the event as a speaker to discuss the exciting ventures and vast capabilities of his company in the commercial space industry.

Also scheduled to speak is Rick Homans, Secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department. His keynote luncheon address will discuss New Mexico¹s role in the next generation of private space travel.

³Under Governor Richardson¹s leadership New Mexico is launching a new era of opportunity that will bring with it high-wage jobs and economic growth,² said New Mexico Economic Development Department Secretary Rick Homans. ³The X PRIZE CUP is a cutting edge initiative that will help us continue to move our state forward.²

Other speakers include:

Richard Searfoss, Former NASA astronaut and Chief Judge of the Ansari X PRIZE

Erik Lindbergh, X PRIZE Trustee and grandson of aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh

Steve Attenborough, Virgin Galactic¹s vice president for astronaut relations and grandson of internationally-acclaimed actor Sir Richard Attenborough

Stuart Witt, manager of the Mojave Spaceport

Symposium sessions will be organized around four tracks:

-Track One - Creating the Personal Spaceflight Revolution: The X PRIZE CUP

-Track Two - The Personal Spaceflight Experience: Space Tourism

-Track Three - Space as a Place: The New Economic Sector

-Track Four - Spaceports: Infrastructure for the New Space Economy

The symposium registration fee is $25 for students and $65 for all others ­ this price includes lunch and a reception immediately following the symposium. For symposium updates, topics of discussion and online registration, go to

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Information also may be obtained by calling the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium office at (505) 646-6414.

About Arianespace

Arianespace is the leading global commercial launch services provider offering a family of vehicles able to launch any mass to any orbit at any time. Created in 1980 as the world¹s first commercial space transportation company, Arianespace has signed contracts for the launch of more than 250 satellite payloads. Arianespace is a member of the innovative Launch Services Alliance with Boeing Launch Services and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries that provides total mission assurance to satellite operators around the globe.

About the X PRIZE CUP

What if you could see the spaceships of tomorrow today? Meet the astronauts who will fly them. Imagine yourself inside them, watching the earth turn below you. The future is closer than you think. We¹re not talking about models. We¹re talking about the real thing. Last year the X PRIZE Foundation gave away $10 million for the first private spaceflight ­ a history-making achievement that blanketed the front pages of the newspapers across the globe. This year we¹re unveiling a new generation of private spaceships at the X PRIZE CUP in New Mexico. Bring your friends and family to the Las Cruces Airport on Sunday October 9th. See six different spaceships currently in testing. Watch them fly. Meet the pioneers, pilots and astronauts who make them fly. XCOR Aerospace will fly a rocketplane called EZ-Rocket ­ attempting to break a world record right before your eyes. Starchaser ­ with its

7,000-pound liquid rocket engine igniting in a spectacle of twenty-foot flames. Armadillo, firing its newest rocket engine concept. The revolution in personal spaceflight continues at the Countdown to the X PRIZE CUP ­ October 9, 2005 11 AM ­ 5 PM at the Las Cruces Airport.

About New Mexico¹s Aerospace Industry

Clear skies, mild weather, world-renowned research labs, and a growing aerospace industry make New Mexico an ideal location for the next generation of aerospace entrepreneurs. According to Economy.com, New Mexico¹s cost of doing business is among the 10 lowest of the 50 states?due largely to our competitive wages and low energy costs. New Mexico State University is starting an Aerospace Engineering Program to support the emerging space sectors in New Mexico. At the same time, we offer the infrastructure that aerospace firms need with Albuquerque International Sunport, White Sands Missile Range, two Air Force bases, many community airports, and the construction of the new $10 million Southwest Regional Spaceport in Southern New Mexico. Full details can be found at

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Source: ROL Newswire Service

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