don't mind me, I'm just jealous.
Teen to Fly on Second X Prize Competition Flight
MOJAVE, CA (September 26, 2003) -- Rocket manufacturers Interorbital Systems (IOS) announced their intention to launch the first teenager into space. Justin Houchin, a 16-year old high school graduate, robotics enthusiast, and Eagle Scout candidate, is seeking sponsorship to complete the purchase of a $50,000 ticket to ride aboard a rocket currently under construction by Interorbital Systems at their Mojave, California facilities. Justin's supporters made a down payment on a suborbital space tourism ticket for the young man who has taken the first step toward becoming the world's 'First Teenager in Space.'
At the recent Palms to Pines Air Race, Randa Milliron, CEO of Interorbital Systems introduced Justin and his parents, Craig and Suzanne Houchin of Sunland, California, to acclaimed aviator and IOS' X Prize rocket pilot, Ms. Wally Funk. Wally, one the original "Mercury 13" women astronaut candidates, will command the first non-governmental commercial manned flight into space for Interorbital Systems, piloting the Solaris X rocket in the company's bid to win the X Prize, a $10 million private sector space race. In conducting the two initial manned X Prize space flights at the end of 2004, Wally will also serve as IOS' test pilot, certifying the launch vehicle for space tourism flights. Justin will fly on the second of the X Prize competition flights, becoming the world's first teenager in space. This flight will be an historic first for many reasons. It will be IOS' first adventure travel space flight; it will be the first private sector manned space flight; it will fulfill Wally Funk's lifelong dream of reaching space; it will carry the first teenager into space, and it will win the X Prize.
Randa Milliron, CEO and co-founder of Interorbital Systems, stated: "Both Justin Houchin and Wally Funk possess the qualities we look for in perfect candidates for space travel. They are brave, skilled, and highly intelligent adventurers who will get to space through sheer determination and by their own indomitable efforts. The fact that Justin and Wally span the age and gender spectrum is a defining characteristic of Interorbital Systems' space program-we don't tolerate petty boundaries of discrimination. We firmly believe that space is for everyone!"
Justin Houchin, who recently graduated from the Pinewood Academy, a La Canada high school, was also a member of an award-winning robotics team in "FIRST", an international robotics competition for young scientists, created by inventor Dean Kaman. The young Mr. Houchin is also an aspiring filmmaker, a gymnast, and a rock-and-roll guitarist---to list a few of his many skills. Justin, his family, and associates plan to raise funds to send him to the Russian Cosmonaut Training Center at Star City outside Moscow where he can train with veteran cosmonauts, with the intention of making him the world's most experienced teenage astronaut candidate by the time he is eighteen.
Justin is booking passage aboard the Solaris X, a rocket being built by one of the X Prize front-running teams, Interorbital Systems, led by Randa and Roderick Milliron. The X Prize Competition, designed to jump start the space tourism industry, is a private sector space race with a $10 million prize for the team that can launch passengers to 62.5 miles, bring them back safely and launch them again within two weeks, a feat which has never been accomplished by any private sector entity. There are currently 25 international teams competing for the prize. For more about the X Prize, please visit
http://www.xprize.org. Justin is actively seeking sponsorship to complete his purchase of one of ten reduced fare, advance purchase suborbital flight tickets currently on sale by Interorbital Systems. The nine remaining promotional tickets, priced at $50,000 (half of the projected $100,000 full fare), come with a 100% rebate two years after the flight date. They are essentially "Free" tickets to space. For more information on tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Randa Milliron by phone at 661.965.0771 or at
ios@interorbital.com. Details about Interorbital Systems program are posted at
http://www.interorbital.com. Justin's website is firstteenagerinspace.org.
The "First Teenager in Space" concept is the brainchild of space educator Ivor Dawson, Founder and President of the non-profit Traveling Space Museum, Inc. Dawson hopes that Justin's quest will inspire young people around the country to consider careers in aerospace and technology. Mr. Dawson plans to open a Children's Space Museum this year in association with the Wesley United Methodist Church in the mid-city area of Los Angeles. He was instrumental in arranging the sponsorship that allowed Justin to reserve the 'ticket to space'.
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