Official Opening of the International Institute of Space Commerce Saturday 4th October...

Official Opening of the International Institute of Space Commerce Saturday 4th October 2008

ISLE OF MAN, British Isles & STRASBOURG, France--(Business Wire)--
The official opening of the world's first International Institute
of Space Commerce, the IISC, will take place on Saturday 4th October
at the International Business School on the Isle of Man.

The IISC is a joint project between the International Space
University (ISU) based in Strasbourg, France and the Isle of Man
Government. The ISU decided that they wished to become more global and
wanted to establish a number of associated International Institutes
around the world. Three international institutes are planned - an
International Institute of Space Commerce, an International Institute
of Space Law and an International Institute of Space Tourism. The
first institute to "go live" is the Isle of Man Institute of Space
Commerce.

Present at the opening will be representatives of the
international space community, including George Abbey and Dr Soyeon
Yi.

Mr. George Abbey is the Senior Fellow for Space Studies from the
Baker Institute at Rice University in Texas. Formerly Mr. Abbey was
the Director of the NASA Johnson Space Centers Flight Crew Operations
Directorate (FCOD), presiding from the first group of space shuttle
astronauts in 1978 through to1988 and served on the National Space
Council under Vice President Dan Quayle in the Administration of
George Bush Senior.

Dr. Soyeon Yi (pronounced SO-YON YEE) came to international
prominence on 8th April this year, when she became the first citizen
of South Korea, and only the second woman from the whole of Asia, to
go into space.

Isle of Man Minister for Space Alex Downie said, "Welcoming the
IISC to the Isle of Man is part of our overall strategy to encourage
space innovation. Here, they find a perfect combination of a pro-space
government, an established professional infrastructure, access to
orbital slots and zero per cent tax on space and satellite business."

"Among the many countries interested in the commercial
possibilities presented by outer space, the Isle of Man stands out as
a place where people have that rare ability to both dream big dreams
and close a solid business plan," said Dr. Michael Simpson, president
of the International Space University. "We look forward to a long and
productive partnership with the island and its people in the years to
come."

Tim Craine, +441624 686395
tim.craine@gov.im
or
Chris Stott, +1 281-228-9155
chris.stott@mansat.com
Michael Simpson, +33 (0)3 88 65 54 30
Simpson@isu.isunet.edu
Walter Peeters, +33 (0)3 88 65 54 30
peeters@isu.isunet.edu
or
International Institute of Space Commerce: www.iisc.im
International Space University: www.isunet.edu
Isle of Man Government: www.gov.im

Copyright Business Wire 2008