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The Sky is No Longer the Limit with Metro’s Race to Space!

Dépèche transmise le 2 mars 2012 par Business Wire

The Sky is No Longer the Limit with Metro’s Race to Space!

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Metro US, America’s #1 free daily is proud to announce that Metro will be the first newspaper to send one of its readers to space in Metro’s Race to Space.

“It's our mission to make space accessible for the world. Working together with what probably is the world's most accessible news medium of our planet is of course a perfect match! We're looking forward to doing this exciting competition. The sky is no longer the limit!”

The space competition will begin on March 5, 2012 and will feature a collaboration with SXC – Space Expedition Curacao who will make this trip to space possible. The SXC team members are experienced aerospace and business professionals with a passion for space travel.

"It's our mission to make space accessible for the world. Working together with what probably is the world's most accessible news medium of our planet is of course a perfect match! We're looking forward to doing this exciting competition. The sky is no longer the limit!" says Michiel Mol, one of the founders of SXC.

The competition will allow readers to submit an inspiring reason on why they deserve to go to space as well as take a space ”quiz” to test their knowledge of outer space. Each Metro country will select one local nominee based on the number of Facebook ”likes” and the quality of the submission and send their nominees to the global jury – comprised of members of both SXC and Metro International – that will make in-depth interviews before selecting the astronaut-to-be.

"To build a strong brand perception you constantly need to engage your audience in new, dynamic ways. The Metro way is to be bold and do the unexpected – like we did with the Lady Gaga and Karl Lagerfeld campaigns. I believe the collaboration with SXC, and Metro’s Race for Space, is an excellent way for Metro to do something which has never been done before by a newspaper,” says Priscilla Arguinzoni, Marketing Director, Metro US.

In addition to the space trip, the lucky winner will receive astronaut training ahead of the 2014 trip, accommodation in Curacao, as well as the unique opportunity report from the training and trip.

The finalists will be announced on April 12, 2012 — in a global special edition dedicated to the topic of space and the future of space travel.

Rick Searfoss, a NASA astronaut and Space Shuttle commander and chief test pilot of the Lynx, reflects on being in space: ”Looking at Earth from space is an experience that has truly changed my life. I flew the Space Shuttle three times, but of course the first time was by far the most impactful; therefore, I'm a little bit jealous of the person that's going to win The Metro Race for Space. For him or her, this unique experience is still to come."

ABOUT METRO INTERNATIONAL

Metro is the largest international newspaper in the world. Metro is published in over 100 major cities in 22 countries across Europe, North & South America and Asia. Metro has a unique global reach - attracting a young, active, well-educated Metropolitan audience of over 17 million daily readers.

ABOUT SXC

SXC are dedicated to the development of space travel as a commercial means of transport and excited about participating in pioneering scientific research into space and space travel. Coming from different relevant backgrounds and having gathered many years of experience in leading roles, the men of SXC are very dependable and particularly well equipped for this ambitious space venture. In joining their forces, they have created a strong team with extensive knowledge of both aerospace and commerce.