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.

FMI: www.xprizecup.com/, www.gonm.biz