CONTACT: Dennis Stone Owen
Torres / Harrison Liu Julie Cram
Spaceweek Int’l Assoc. Zero
Gravity Corporation TerreStar Networks
(832) 628-2212 954-765-3636 (703)
346-9899
dstone@spaceweek.org owen@msilver-pr.com julescram@aol.com
FIRST HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENT FROM AFRICA FLIES
WEIGHTLESS ON ZERO-G FLIGHT to Inspire students globally to learn science and
math
World
Space Week Youth Inspiration Program and TerreStar Networks Send
Exceptional Nigerian Student on a Trip to Weightlessness
Kennedy
Space Center, Fla. – September 21, 2006 – Stella Felix of
Nigeria on Saturday becomes the first high school student from Africa to experience
the exhilaration of zero gravity on a parabolic flight from the NASA Kennedy
Space Center (KSC).
Spaceweek
International Association (SIA) is partnering with TerreStar Networks and Zero
Gravity Corporation to send Felix, age 17, on The ZERO-G Experience™ as
the inaugural flight of the World Space Week Youth Inspiration Program to
inspire students to learn and promote international understanding.
“We
are proud to send Stella on a truly out-of-this-world experience,” said
Courtney Stadd, SIA Chairman. “Indeed, World Space Week demonstrates to young
people globally that dreams can come true by excelling in school.” World Space
Week will be celebrated in schools and communities in nearly 50 nations October
4-10.
Felix
was selected for this honor recognizing her dedication to her education and
interest in science. One of seven children from a poor Nigerian family, she
walks three miles every day to attend school.
“I
am thrilled Florida is playing a role in this endeavor by hosting Stella and the
zero gravity flight from the Kennedy Space Center," said Governor Jeb
Bush. "I hope Stella's academic achievement and exciting experience
inspire students to pursue careers in math and science fields. This
collaborative effort is critical as we prepare our next generation of
engineers, rocket scientists and astronauts."
“TerreStar
strongly believes in World Space Week’s mission and is pleased to participate
in this exciting event,” said Robert H. Brumley, CEO of TerreStar Networks
Inc. “Building the global high-tech workforce of tomorrow begins today by
exposing young people to the exciting opportunities in space-related
technologies.”
- more -
FIRST HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENT FROM
AFRICA FLIES IN ZERO-G / P. 2
Prior
to the flight, Ms. Felix and TerreStar Senior Vice President Charlene King will
undergo a comprehensive training and briefing program at KSC. They will board G-FORCE
ONE, a Boeing 727-200 jetliner which has been modified to perform parabolic
maneuvers to create weightlessness.
Notes to Editors
A pre-flight photo opportunity with
Ms. Felix will occur at the NASA KSC Visitor Center at 1:30 - 2:00 pm on
Saturday.
Photography from the flight will be
posted at www.spaceweek.org/media.html.
About Spaceweek International
Association
Founded in 1981, Spaceweek International Association (www.spaceweek.org)
is a non-profit organization that coordinates World Space Week, the largest
public space event on Earth, celebrated in some 50 nations each October 4-10.
About Terrestar Networks
TerreStar Networks Inc. (www.terrestarnetworks.com)
is a Reston, VA-based provider of advanced mobile satellite services for the
North American market. The company plans to develop, build and operate an
innovative and spectrum-efficient spot beam satellite system in the 2 GHz
frequency band.
About Zero Gravity Corporation
Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-GÒ, www.gozerog.com,
1-800-ZERO-G-800) is the first and only FAA-approved provider of weightless
flight open to the general public. The ZERO-G ExperienceÔ is similar to the astronaut training used by NASA.
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