Governor Announces the X Prize

LUNARclips 2005 Volume 12, Number 2 Livermore Unit of the National Association of Rocketry March/April 2005

that will not only assist in opening the space GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES frontier to all private citizens, but will bring THE X PRIZE CUP new companies, provide new jobs, increase tourism statewide, and help brand New Mexico as the place to be to experience the future.” The following is a copy of an email received April At a press conference in Las Cruces, the Gover- 13 about the plans for the X-Prize Cup nor outlined the week's activities for the Count- down to X PRIZE CUP. Joining the Governor in the announcement was Dr. Peter H. Dia- mandis, Founder and Chairman of the X PRIZE Foundation, which is partnering with New Mexico in developing the X PRIZE CUP an- nual even, and New Mexico Secretary of Eco- nomic Development Rick Homans. “ The X PRIZE Foundation is thrilled to be part- ners with the citizens of New Mexico in creat- Governor Bill Richardson Announces X ing what will become the premiere space event PRIZE CUP Events of the 21st Century as we launch the personal New Mexico's X PRIZE CUP event follows spaceflight revolution,” said Dr. Peter H. Dia- last year's second biggest news story - $10 mandis, Chairman and Founder of the X PRIZE Million Ansari X PRIZE won by SpaceShi- Foundation. pOne Events announced for the Countdown to the X PRIZE CUP include: LAS CRUCES, NM (April 13 2005) - As part o Demonstration flights of reusable space vehi- of a groundbreaking move to make New Mex- cles by future X PRIZE CUP contenders at the ico the launch pad for commercial space travel, Las Cruces International Airport Governor Bill Richardson today announced o Preview flights of the Tier-1 X PRIZE Rocket southern New Mexico will host a special event Racer at the Las Cruces International Airport. called Countdown to the X PRIZE CUP, that o Static hardware displays of the X PRIZE will include X PRIZE CUP team demonstra- team vehicles, flight simulations and opportuni- tions, an exhibition, the largest-ever space edu- ties to visit with astronauts, spacecraft design- cation day, and space-related community events ers, and X PRIZE team leaders and pilots, statewide. The event will take place this fall, as o Education Day at the Alamogordo Space His- Governor Richardson declared October 4-9, tory Museum for New Mexico's next genera- 2005 will be “ X PRIZE CUP” week throughout tion of engineers, pilots, astronauts, and space the state of New Mexico. entrepreneurs with more than 2000 students “ New Mexico continues to take the lead in ad- participating vancing the next generation of space vehicles o During the event, Zero Gravity Corporation's and space travelers,” said Governor Richard- G-FORCE One will conduct weightless flights son. “ This year's Countdown to X PRIZE CUP utilizing the only FAA approved zero-gravity is the important first step in creating an event aircraft