Americans in Orbit-50 Years Inc., A Non-Profit Organization, Announces Its Plan to...

Americans in Orbit-50 Years Inc., A Non-Profit Organization, Announces Its
Plan to Re-Create The Flight of the First American to Orbit

Astronaut applications now being accepted

MADISON, Ala., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today Americans in Orbit-50
Years has announced plans to re-create the NASA mission in which John Glenn
became the first American to Orbit the Earth. Inspired by the 1962 Friendship
7 mission, the plan is to re-create the flight on the 50th anniversary,
February 20, 2012. Craig Russell, President of Americans in Orbit-50 Years,
stated, "This is the first attempt to re-create a manned orbital spaceflight.
We plan to launch an astronaut from Cape Canaveral aboard an improved Mercury
capsule." The flight is scheduled to "splash down" in the Atlantic, just as
Glenn's 1962 mission.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080117/AIO50LOGO )

Americans in Orbit-50 Years has been able to recruit an Advisory Board made up
of a distinguished group of space program veterans: T.J. O'Malley, Charles
Arthur (Chuck) Biggs, Sr., Larry R. Capps, William Coleman, Lt. Col. USAF
(Ret.), Hugh W. Harris, Konrad K. Dannenberg. We will continue to add members
over time.

The purpose of the project is twofold; commemoration and education. Our hope
is to honor all of those who were associated with Project Mercury. Many of
these people went on to work on both the Gemini and Apollo programs which
resulted in the moon landing. The Dittmar Associates Study, commissioned by
NASA, noted the steady decline of interest in space exploration over the last
few years, particularly among the younger generations. Americans in Orbit-50
Years will re-ignite interest by allowing students to actively participate
with space science experiments and small satellites in the adaptor section.
Russell has contacted professors at several major universities, and they have
all expressed interest and a desire to be involved in the project.

The organization proposes to use a Falcon 9 rocket for the launch. The Falcon
9 is being developed and tested by SpaceX, a California based space
exploration company. The two stage rocket will be able to lift approximately
22,000 lbs. into orbit.

Huntsville, Alabama - January 9, 2008 - Americans in Orbit-50 Years announced
astronaut applications are being accepted. The minimum requirements and
application procedure can be found on the website. Craig Russell made the
announcement in Huntsville, Alabama at the local chapter of the National Space
Society (HAL 5).

About Americans in Orbit-50 Years, Inc. - Americans in Orbit-50 Years is
headquartered in Madison, Alabama, just outside Huntsville, Alabama (home of
Marshall Space Flight Center, U.S. Space and Rocket Center, and Space Camp).
The mission is to develop and manage a program to commemorate the 50 year
anniversary of NASA's Friendship 7 mission, create excitement, public
awareness of space exploration, and promote the National Space Science
Education Program (NSSEP). For more information, visit their website at
www.aio50.org.

SOURCE Americans in Orbit-50 Years Inc.

Craig Russell, President of Americans in Orbit-50 Years, Inc.,
+1-256-319-0023, bcrussell@aio50.org