Not exactly GA, but Florida’s Aerospace Research & Engineering Systems Institute, Inc. is giving someone the opportunity to take the ride of a lifetime to the edge of space aboard a commercial spacecraft — for free.
ARES Institute is accepting applications through Dec. 31, 2012. At the conclusion of the registration period, one person will be randomly selected to assist in conducting scientific research on a suborbital spaceflight.
In exchange for a donation of $10 or more, registrants will receive a DVD set of highlights of space shuttle Discovery’s final mission ever and a three-month subscription to SpaceflightNews.net All-Access as well as a one-year membership to ARES Institute. All-Access provides access to all of our video, photo and multimedia as well as priority login on our forums. People may also register for the drawing at no cost but won’t receive the additional DVD or subscriptions.
This event is designed to provide an opportunity for a member of the public to experience spaceflight as well as act as a fundraising vehicle for the non-profit organization, which relies on donations, in-kind contributions and grants to support its programs.
ARES Institute is engaged in programs to stimulate interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education among high school and college students. The organization’s mission also includes outreach activities to raise public awareness and support of space exploration. ARES Institute is working to establish a hands-on space-oriented engineering program to give students the opportunity to work with real rockets and scientific payloads, stimulating their interest in related fields while providing valuable skills training for the aerospace workforce of the future.
The organization is also trying to establish a fusion research laboratory on Florida’s Space Coast. Fusion and plasma science may hold key answers to problems of clean energy, waste remediation, and terrestrial as well as space propulsion, institute officials said. SPHERELAB II is being developed to conduct research in these areas and advance the state of the start while, at the same time, giving college students the opportunity to work hands-on with technologies vital to the future health and prosperity of humanity.
For more information: ARESInstitute.org
