X Prize May 18th Gala Debut -- Aviation Extravaganza

[Xprize]

Dear Aviation Enthusiast:

You are invited to attend a very special aviation event!

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ON MAY 18TH, YOU ARE INVITED TO BEGIN

THE ULTIMATE HUMAN ADVENTURE ...

THE X PRIZE

"Enabling Human Ingenuity

and

Adventure in Space!"

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On May 20th, 1927, The Spirit of St. Louis carried Charles Lindbergh from
New York to Paris and into the hearts and minds of the world. On May
18th, 1996, all eyes will be on St. Louis again.

"The X Prize is an exciting program which will do
for astronautics what Charles Lindbergh did for
aviation in 1927."
- Mr. Arthur C. Clarke, Author & Scientist

"If the X Prize is half as successful as the aviation
competitions have been, it will serve as an important
milestone in opening the space frontier to commercial
passengers and space tourism."
- Mr. Daniel S. Goldin, NASA Administrator

On May 18th, the most ambitious prize in aviation and space history will
be announced at the St. Louis Science Center. The X Prize. A
multi-million dollar international space prize which will shape the future
of commercial space travel for private citizens. Scientists, explorers,
astronauts, and business leaders from around the world will convene in St.
Louis -- by invitation -- to take part in this historic announcement.
Please join us.

THE X PRIZE DINNER COMMITTEE

[Co-Chairmen] Dr. Buzz Aldrin
Apollo 11 Astronaut
Chairman, National Space
Society

Mr. Erik Lindbergh
Grandson of Charles Lindbergh
Pilot

[Astronauts Attending May 18th Event]

Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Gemini 12, Apollo 11
Captain Daniel C. Brandenstein
Colonel Gerald P. Carr, Skylab 4
Mr. Robert J. Cenker
Dr. Mary L. Cleave
Colonel Richard O. Covey, STS 51-I, STS 26, STS 38, STS 61
Mr. R. Walter Cunningham, Apollo 7
Dr. Samuel T. Durrance, STS 35
Dr. Owen K. Garriott, Skylab 3, STS 9
Dr. Linda M. Godwin
Mr. Richard J. Hieb
Dr. Byron Lichtenberg, STS 9, STS 45
Captain Jon A. McBride, STS 41-G
Col. Steven R. Nagel
Colonel William R. Pogue, Skylab 4
Dr. Harrison H. Schmitt, Apollo 17
General Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini 6, Gemini 9, Apollo 10
Dr. Charles Walker, STS 41-D, STS 51-D, STS 61-B
Dr. Taylor G. Wang, STS 51-B

You are invited to join astronauts, explorers, aerospace and business
leaders at a black-tie gala event on May 18th.

The X Prize is endorsed by the following Space Organizations:
* Aero Club of France
* Aerospace States Association
* Association of Space Explorers
* The Explorers Club
* Federation Aeronautique Internationale
* National Space Society
* National Aeronautics & Space Administration
* Society of Experimental Test Pilots
* Space Frontier Foundation
* U.S. Space Foundation

[EVENT DETAILS]
Location: St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis, MO.
Cocktails: 6:30 p.m.
Dinner & Event: 8:00 p.m.
Price: $500 per ticket*
$4,000 per table of eight (two members of the New
Spirit of St. Louis Committee and/or astronauts will
join your table for a total of ten).
Dress: Black-Tie
Valet Parking

*Approximately $400 of the $500 is tax-deductible

Please RSVP no later than May 10, 1996.
For more infomation, please call 314 - 982 - 9172.
or e-mail to Xpr...@aol.com

To RSVP: Please send the following information:

Name:_______________________________________

Organization:_________________________________

Address:_____________________________________

City:_______________State: ________ Zip: ________

Tel: ____________________

Number of Tickets Requested: ______

I have enclosed a check for: $______ ($500 per seat)

Please seat the following guests at my table:
(1) {include your name}
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)

Please send check and above information to:
The X Prize Foundation, 200 N. Broadway, Suite 1800
St. Louis, MO USA 63102. Tel: 314-982-9172

X PRIZE GENERAL INFORMATION:
The X Prize has been created to educate the public about space tourism and
to accelerate the development of low-cost, reusable launch vehicles and
thereby jump-start the creation of a space tourism industry.

Prizes work. In the 1920's and 1930's hundreds of aviation prizes pushed
the envelope of speed, distance, endurance and safety in the fledgling
aeronautical industry. In 1926 and 1927 alone, more than $100 million
worth or prizes (in 1996 dollars) were offered to challenge the flying
community. Today, only 70 years later, aviation is a global $250 billion
industry.

The X Prize follows in the long-standing tradition of aviation prizes.
This is the first-ever human spaceflight prize. The multi-million cash
prize will be awarded to the first group to privately build and
demonstrate a spaceship which can carry at least three people to a 100 km
(sub-orbital) altitude on a repeatable basis. Details of the X Prize
rules will be announced on May 18th.

It is the intent of the X Prize Foundation, that those who compete for and
win the X Prize will soon become modern-day heroes and transportation
innovators. The X Prize will inspire today's greatest entrepreneurs.