It’s not “Dancing with the Stars,” but “Advancing to the Stars” that is the star-filled challenge for 20 contest finalists vying to make it to the top of the Seattle Space Needle — and far beyond. Your vote on the Space Needle’s Facebook page could put five of them over the top!
The contest, announced in August, 2011, will send a person into space as part of the Space Needle’s 50th anniversary celebration. From 50,000 to 1,000 to 20, candidates for the Space Needle’s Space Race 2012 are nearing the final competition.
One thousand entrants were randomly selected from the initial field of 50,000 applicants from around the country. Those 1,000 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 today they are posted on the Space Needle’s Facebook page for public voting.
Cast your vote for one of the twenty contestants on their Facebook page at http://apps.facebook.com/spaceracecompetition/entries
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. [24×7]
