Rocket Into Space With the Civilian Astronauts Corps.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 1998--The Civilian Astronauts Corps (CAC) announces their seventh sold out civilian space flight on the "Mayflower". The international space organization boasts support and flight members from the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Singapore, Italy, Hong Kong, Austria, Ireland and Germany.

"Today, thirty-six years after John Glenn's historic flight into space, virtually everything necessary for safe, low-cost space travel is known," says Harry Dace, CAC director. "The CAC was organized to put this knowledge to use, and get on with the future and start flying the public into space."

Dace describes the situation. "The CAC is trying to recruit 2,000 flight members to join at $5,000 each. The CAC will then finish building the first private passenger spacecraft in history."

"The 'Mayflower' is a state-of-the-art, water-launched and water-landed, rocket powered spacecraft. Scheduled to begin public flights next year, the 'Mayflower' will take six passengers and one pilot for a quick trip into space. The rocket will launch and land on the waters off the coast of Galveston, Texas."

"The rocket launches out of the water. At 25 miles up, the engines shut off and the rocket coasts to 70 miles above the Earth, space. Here passengers will experience four minutes of real weightlessness and see the curvature of the Earth below and stars above."

"The pilot will use the retro-rockets to position the 'Mayflower' for its re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. After executing an exciting 5g pull out maneuver the space craft will level out for its glide back to its landing site. The pilot will land it gently on the ocean like a seaplane. The 'Mayflower' is towed to its service barge and you disembark."

After the flight, passengers will be official civilian astronauts, the first in history.

"The idea of actually helping to build a spaceship and flying in it, on my own initiative, excited me," said Dr. Michael Martin-Smith, a CAC flight member from England. "Here is a real opportunity for forward-thinking people to make a difference."

The CAC is also a contender for the $10 million X Prize to be given to the first private passenger-carrying spacecraft. Patterned after the aviation prize Charles Lindbergh won in his "Spirit of St. Louis" airplane 70 years ago, the X Prize is offered by the New Spirit of St. Louis Committee in Missouri.

Persons interested in signing up for the space flights can contact the Civilian Astronauts Corps at 403 NASA Road 1 East, Suite 2000, Houston, Texas, USA 77598; 281/482-4005; [e-mail]; www.mayflowerrocket.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Flight animation in Beta-roll or Targa CD format available upon request. Imagery available from www.mayflowerrocket.com. Flight members available for interviews. Contact Christopher Pancheri at 281/482-4005, voice-mail 713/536-3291, fax [phone] or [e-mail].