Former Senior White House Space Policy Analyst Joins X PRIZE Foundation as Executive Director, Space

Bretton S. F. Alexander to lead next generation of space exploration with prize philanthropy model

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 13, 2007 – The X PRIZE Foundation announced today the appointment of Bretton S. F. Alexander to the position of Executive Director, Space Prizes and Wirefly X PRIZE Cup. Alexander previously worked for presidents William J. Clinton and George W. Bush as Senior Policy Analyst for space issues in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

In his new role, Alexander will work to secure financing, create rules, recruit teams, develop rollout and media plans and investigate international partnerships for all future space-related prizes for the X PRIZE Foundation. Additionally, he will create and manage content for the annual Wirefly X PRIZE Cup and Holloman Air and Space Expo.

‘I’m delighted to join the X PRIZE Foundation’s efforts to revolutionize the private sector’s use of space through international competitions that inspire all of mankind,’ said Alexander.

The X PRIZE Foundation established itself as the leader in the personal spaceflight revolution when it awarded the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for Suborbital Spaceflight to Mojave Aerospace Ventures in 2004. The prize created an industry breakthrough in private space travel, encouraging entrepreneurs including Sir Richard Branson to actively begin creating new commercial opportunities for private spaceflight.

‘Brett’s expertise in government, international and entrepreneurial space efforts, combined with his personal enthusiasm for bringing about breakthroughs in the economics of space exploration make him the perfect choice to lead the X PRIZE Foundation’s space division,’ said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation. ‘He understands the importance of empowering entrepreneurs and creating highly visible, global competitions that motivate and involve the public in a personal fashion.’

The X PRIZE Foundation is building upon its resounding success in the space arena to develop several new space prizes. Working closely with agencies such as DARPA and NASA’s Centennial Challenges programóa prize program created in direct response to the success of the Ansari X PRIZEóthe Foundation has already secured $3 million in prizes to be offered at this year’s Wirefly X PRIZE Cup and Holloman Air and Space Expo.

ABOUT BRETTON S. F. ALEXANDER

Alexander currently serves as President of the Personal Spaceflight Federation, an industry association focused on commercial human spaceflight, and is Senior Advisor to Transformational Space Corporation (t/Space). Prior to joining the entrepreneurial space community, Alexander was one of the primary authors of the ‘Vision for Space Exploration’ during his tenure as Senior Policy Analyst for space issues in the White House. He has also held positions in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation, the Aerospace Corporation, and ANSER Corporation.

ABOUT THE WIREFLY X PRIZE CUP AND HOLLOMAN AIR AND SPACE EXPO

The Wirefly X PRIZE Cup is an annual two-day air and space exposition. This year the Cup will be held in conjunction with Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, NM to create the first ever Air & Space Expo with ‘live’ fire / fly demonstrations and competitions. This event is free and open to the public and will be held on October 27th and 28th from 10am to 5pm. Launch and air show demonstrations will feature Rocket Racing League’s X-Racer and the return of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge – a two-level, $2 million competition requiring a vehicle to simulate trips between the moon’s surface and lunar orbit. Nine teams are currently registered for this year’s competition, with NASA funding the prizes through its Centennial Challenges program. Air Force demos include the F-22, F-16 and F-117 aircraft. Additionally, visitors can tour a massive ground display featuring space and rocket exhibits and Air Force aircraft. For more information, please visit www.xprizecup.com or call (310) 576-3473.

ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION

The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. On October 4, 2004, the X PRIZE Foundation captured world headlines when Mojave Aerospace Ventures, led by legendary aircraft designer Burt Rutan and Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private vehicle to space twice in two weeks to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE. The Foundation has since expanded its mission beyond space exploration to offer new prizes for breakthroughs in the life sciences, energy and the environment, education and global entrepreneurship. In October of 2006, the X PRIZE Foundation announced the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for genomics, which will reward the first private effort to map 100 human genomes in 10 days ushering in a new era of personalized preventative medicine. For more information please visit www.xprize.org or email press@xprize.org.