Videos Are Now Posted On The Space Needle's Space Race Tab On Facebook

As part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Seattle's Space Needle, the attractions' management company came up with a novel idea. Why not hold a contest to sent one lucky person on a sub-orbital flight with a space tourism company?

So with no (as yet) working spacecraft and no timetable for one to be ready, the Space Needle made an agreement with Space Adventures to offer a seat on one of its flights to the winner of the contest. The program kicked off in August, 2011.

50,000 people submitted entries. Those were winnowed down to 1,000 selected randomly, and they were invited to submit videos highlighting why they are the best candidate for this sub-orbital space flight with Space Adventures. Twenty of those videos now have been chosen and have been posted on the Space Needle's Facebook page for public voting.

After voting ends on Sunday, March 18, five finalists will be identified and invited to come to Seattle for a series of elimination challenges in late April/early May to determine the winner of the ultimate prize of space travel.

The 20 semi-finalists, who range in age from 23 to 59, are a diverse group from coast to coast. With over half of the group from outside Washington state, the stories vary from every interest and background. There is the finalist from a remote Alaskan Village, a synchronized swimmer and a man being trained for the challenge by his young son. They all have stories that tell of their passion for space travel.

The winner will take his or her space ride with Space Adventures, Ltd at an as yet undetermined date in the near future.

FMI:  www.spaceadventures.com, www.facebook.com/spaceneedle