The couple has joined the Civilian Astronauts Corps, a Houston-based company scheduling sub-orbit space trips for the public.

"When I first considered signing up for the flight, I presented the idea to my wife," Doug said. "I asked her if she thought we could work out the budget, free up some money for this type of activity. After discussing it, she indicated that it would be possible with one provision -- that she go too. Now we're booked on flights seven and eight."

The CAC is trying to recruit 2,000 people to join at $5,000 each. The CAC will then finish building the first private passenger spacecraft in history.

Harry Dace, CAC Director, describes the situation. "The 'Mayflower' is a rocket-engineer-designed, state-of-the-art, rocket-powered spacecraft. Scheduled to begin public flights next year, the 'Mayflower' will take six passengers and one pilot for a quick trip into space. The rocket will launch and land on the waters off the coast of Galveston, Texas, making two trips a day at sunrise and sunset.

"The rocket launches out of the water. At 25 miles up, the engines shut off and the rocket coasts to 70 miles above the Earth, space. Here passengers will experience four minutes of real weightlessness and see the curvature of the Earth below and stars above.

"The pilot will use the retro-rockets to position the 'Mayflower' for its reentry into Earth's atmosphere. After executing an exciting 5g pull out maneuver the spacecraft will level out for its glide back to its landing site. The pilot will land it gently on the ocean like a seaplane. The 'Mayflower' is towed to its service barge and you disembark."

After the flight, passengers will be official civilian astronauts, the first in history.

"This is something I personally believe in," Doug said. "There are many things that other people can do, but this is what I can do that could really make a serious difference in opening the space frontier."

Persons interested in signing up for the space flights can contact the Civilian Astronauts Corps at POB 1562, Friendswood, Texas, 77549; 281/482-4005; [email protected] .

MayFlower Rocket

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