Hundreds of Other Prizes to Be Awarded Four Times a Year
WASHINGTON, May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The X PRIZE Foundation, a nonprofit
organization created to jump-start the space tourism industry, today launched
one of the most unusual and exciting sweepstakes in history. The grand-prize
winner of the Your Ticket to Space(SM) sweepstakes will take a sub-orbital
trip into space, thereby earning official classification as an astronaut.
One of the best ways to enter the sweepstakes is by applying for and using
one of six different X PRIZE Platinum Visa credit cards offered by First USA,
a subsidiary of BANC ONE CORPORATION. Each time the card is used, card
members receive an entry into the sweepstakes. An initial sweepstakes entry
and card application can be made by calling a special toll-free number,
877-U2-SPACE (877-827-7223), or by visiting the X PRIZE web site at
http://www.xprize.org. No card application is required to enter the sweepstakes.
Sweepstakes rules are available upon request.
Thousands of prizes will be awarded in the sweepstakes, including
zero-gravity flights like the ones used to train astronauts to work in
weightless environments, supersonic flights in Russian MiGs and trips to space
camp. The sweepstakes will award nearly 1,000 prizes annually through
drawings every three months. The first drawing will be held
September 15, 1998. Shortly after the X PRIZE is won, a drawing will be held
to award the grand prize of the sub-orbital flight.
Each of the six no-annual-fee X PRIZE Platinum Visa cards features unique
space-tourism artwork and a 9.99% APR on purchases and balance transfers, one
of the lowest non-introductory rates available. Each time the card is used to
make a purchase, a contribution automatically will be made to the X PRIZE
Foundation to help fund its New Race to Space(SM).
Shortly after the first use of their card, card members will receive a
free signed letter from a veteran NASA astronaut, along with a copy of
National Geographic's Orbit. This collector's edition large format book
features breathtaking photos of Earth taken by astronauts from various space
missions.
Aside from its low APR, the X PRIZE Platinum Visa card features a credit
line up to $100,000; a money-saving, balance-transfer option; and 24-hour,
toll-free customer-service support.
The X PRIZE will be awarded to the first registered team, comprising
aerospace experts and talented entrepreneurs, to build and launch a private
spacecraft capable of carrying three people on a sub-orbital flight to an
altitude of 62 miles (100 km) on two consecutive flights within two weeks.
All teams must be privately financed.
The X PRIZE Foundation already has raised more than half of the
$10 million purse and anticipates having the remaining funds within a year.
Currently, more than a dozen teams from around the world have registered to
compete for the X PRIZE.
First USA (http://www.firstusa.com), a subsidiary of BANC ONE CORPORATION, is a
financial services company specializing in the credit card business and is
among the largest providers of Visa, MasterCard and private-label credit cards
in the nation. First USA has approximately 40.1 million cards issued and
$39.6 billion in total loans outstanding.
SOURCE X Prize Foundation
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Related links:
http://www.xprize.org
http://www.firstusa.com
CONTACT:
Jeff Konkel, for The X PRIZE Foundation,
314-982-9102, Diane Murphy, The X PRIZE Foundation, 202-662-1280
or Tony Plohoros, First USA Bank, 302-434-7957
NOTE TO EDITORS: An audio playback of today's press conference in
Washington D.C. will be available at approximately 3 p.m. EST at
http://www.xprize.org
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