Zero Gravity Corporation,
Apollo-11 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin Joins ZERO-G to Launch Regular Service for the General Public From Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, NV: To Sin City and Beyond! Raising the bar yet higher in the Entertainment Capital of the World, Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G®), the first and only FAA-approved provider of commercial weightless flights, has officially launched regular service from Signature Air Terminal at McCarran International Airport. This, combined with the recently announced relationship with Sharper Image to sell ZERO-G flights in its stores throughout the nation, truly brings an incredible adventure — previously only available to astronauts — directly to the general public.
To blast off the attraction, ZERO-G hosted a private VIP flight with notables including Apollo-11 astronaut, Buzz Aldrin. Key Las Vegas casino executives and Vegas entertainers also participated in the flight to experience weightlessness for the first time, flying like Superman, flipping like Olympic gymnasts and enjoying 10-times more hang-time than the world's best basketball player.
“This is a tremendous occasion for ZERO-G,” said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, CEO and Co-Founder of ZERO-G. “With the launch of regular service in Las Vegas, the public will know exactly when and where they can enjoy the phenomenal experience we deliver. Visitors flock to Las Vegas for once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and ZERO-G will deliver on that expectation and then some. During zero gravity, our passengers can fly through the length of the cabin, watch water hover before their eyes, or release a handful of M&Ms and play a game of human PacMan as they chase them down.”
Currently, Las Vegas ZERO-G flights are scheduled for the following dates: May 19 and 26; June 30; August 4; September 1, 2, 8 and 15; October 6 and 27; November 3, 4, 10 and 11; and December 30 and 31. The ZERO-G Experience(TM), which includes a flight of 15 parabolas, a flight suit, complimentary merchandise, awards, a post-event party, photos, and a DVD of the flight, is offered at a price of $3,500 per seat plus tax. ZERO-G also has regularly scheduled flights from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
| Click to Enlarge |
The experience offered by ZERO-G is the only commercial opportunity on Earth for individuals to experience true “weightlessness” without going to space. This is the identical weightless flight experience used by NASA to train its astronauts and used by Ron Howard and Tom Hanks to film “Apollo-13.” Weightless flight is an experience that few have tried, but those who have call it amazing and life-changing. Martha Stewart, Billy Bush, Burt Rutan, Miles O'Brien, and cast members of “The Apprentice,” and “The Biggest Loser” are just a few notable passengers who've flown with ZERO-G and proclaimed it to be one of the most thrilling experiences of their lives. Numerous astronauts including Buzz Aldrin and Anousheh Ansari also have enjoyed ZERO-G voyages. ZERO-G has played a major role in several blockbuster hits including “Matrix 2” and “Matrix 3.” Professor Stephen Hawking, the world-renowned physicist and expert on gravity, will fly weightless on the ZERO-G Experience on April 26, 2007. The flight will take off from the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Central Florida.
Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Las Vegas, ZERO-G is led by a world-class team of veteran astronauts and experienced business leaders. The company was co-founded by X PRIZE Chairman and space visionary, Dr. Peter H. Diamandis; and veteran astronaut, Dr. Byron K. Lichtenberg. The duo spent more than a decade working to bring the marvel of weightless flight to the public. Since launching the ZERO-G Experience to the general public in September 2004, the company has conducted 100 weightless flights and flown more than 2,500 passengers, including celebrities and media personalities, corporate charters, science and math teachers, and individuals age 12 to 85.
The ZERO-G Experience consists of a brief training session for passengers followed by an approximately 90-minute flight aboard G-Force One, during which parabolic maneuvers are performed. The controlled ascent and descent of the plane allows Flyers to experience Martian gravity (1/3-gravity), Lunar gravity (1/6-gravity), and zero gravity. The ZERO-G Experience provides its Flyers with twice the amount of weightless time achieved in a typical sub-orbital flight into space. ZERO-G operates under the highest safety standards as set by the FAA (Part-121) with its partner Amerijet International of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Aircraft operations take place under the same regulations set for large commercial passenger airliners.
About ZERO-G
Zero Gravity Corporation is a privately held space entertainment and tourism company whose mission is to make the excitement and adventure of weightlessness accessible to the public. ZERO-G is based in Las Vegas and Florida and is the first and only FAA-approved provider of weightless flight to the general public, as well as the entertainment and film industries; corporate and incentive market; non-profit research and education sectors; and government.
Booking Flights
ZERO-G has established a relationship with the Sharper Image Corporation to exclusively market and sell seats on its public flights. Beginning May 15, 2007, reservations for seats on the ZERO-G Experience will be made available through Sharper Image's 187 specialty-retail stores, their monthly catalog and ZERO-G Experience, which includes pre-flight training, a flight of 15 parabolas, flight suit, complimentary merchandise, awards, a post-event party, photos, and a DVD of the flight, is offered at a price of $3,500 per seat. . For the current flight schedule, more information or to book a seat, call 1-800-937-6480.
ZERO-G flights also may be chartered for private flights and events. Since launch of service in 2004, numerous corporate incentive flights have been conducted for companies like American Express, Hewlett-Packard, Google and Cadbury Schweppes. In addition G-Force One has been chartered for private celebrations, birthday parties and research flights. The ZERO-G Experience builds deep common memories that no ordinary gravity-bound exercise can equal. It is a unique way to express gratitude to important clients and partners. Flights can be rewards, incentives, celebrations and even revenue mechanisms for charitable institutions.
