5,000 Students Expected To Attend
The X Prize Cup
announced Thursday that registration is now open for schools and
teachers who are interested in educating their students about the
next generation of space travel. The X Prize Cup expects 5,000
students for Education Day on Friday, October 20 in Las Cruces, NM
-- where students will have the opportunity to see real rockets
launch, talk to real astronauts, and learn about the next
generation of space travel, all in one location.
Teachers who sign their classes up to attend will receive
in-depth Teacher Guides and Student Workbooks that will educate
students about the history and the future of space travel. The
teaching lesson concludes with the students being able to see the
rockets live at the event. Registration can be completed online at
the X Prize homepage, under the
“Education: Register Your Class Section.”
"The educational presentations, rocket displays, meetings with
astronauts, exiting competitions and high-powered rocket
demonstrations at the X-Prize Cup provide teachers with a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to educate students about the
spaceflight industry," said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Founder and
Chairman of the X Prize Foundation. "Our goal is not just to
educate students, but to inspire them to follow their space travel
dreams. Today’s students are our next generation of
astronauts, engineers, and designers and this is a chance for them
to see firsthand what it takes to be a part of the space travel
industry."
The X Prize Cup Education Program aims to provide both
innovative in-class activities and a full day of excitement and
unparalleled educational experiences for all K-12 classes able to
attend. For classes that cannot make it to the X-Prize Cup in
person, teachers and students can still take part in the X Prize
Cup via a worldwide Webcast.
On October 20 and 21, the X Prize Cup will bring 8 hours of live
programming from Las Cruces to millions of online users worldwide.
More than 20 cameras will capture every second of the action.
The X Cup environment provides one place for students to
experience multiple new space vehicles, simulators, presentations,
and other displays. Groups registered for the X Prize Cup Education
Program will:
- Receive "X Prize Exploration Guides" providing a series of
lessons, activities, and information for teachers to use in-class
and on-site at the Expo
- Attend special presentations and activities from astronauts,
scientists, and engineers in a unique education tent on-site at the
X Prize Cup Expo
- Receive "Passports to Space" that students can have autographed
and stamped as they go through the different content sections at
the Expo
- Meet and talk to inspiring individuals who are making their
careers in science, math, and technology development
- Learn how science, math, technology, and engineering are fun,
exciting, and can change their lives
- Compete in a number of door-Prize competitions associated with
the "Exploration Guides" received in the mail.
There is also a special model rocket fly-off for 5th grade
classes. Registered classes will receive model rocket kits that
will be built in-class and then launched at the X Prize Cup. These
classes will also be able to talk with engineers who design and
build their own rockets and vehicles professionally.
The X Prize Foundation is an educational nonprofit Prize
institute whose mission is to bring about radical breakthroughs in
space and technology for the benefit of humanity. On October 4,
2004, the X Prize Foundation captured world headlines when Mojave
Aerospace Ventures, led by Burt Rutan and Paul Allen, built and
flew the world’s first private craft to space twice in two
weeks to win the $10 million Ansari X Prize.