posted 03-07-2005 11:04 AM               

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AERA Corporation, a leading luxury commercial space travel provider, announced today that it has signed a “Commercial Space Operations Support Agreement” with the United States Air Force (USAF). The agreement, effective for, and renewable after five years, establishes the ground-rules that will apply to AERA’s proposed access to launch facilities and launch support services at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

“As we do with all launch customers, we'll be providing oversight to ensure flight and public safety attention is maintained,” said Rick Blucker, chief of plans and programs, 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, FL.

AERA is the only commercial manned space travel provider with such an agreement. Plans are now underway to launch Altairis, the Company’s first generation spacecraft, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in 2006.

“We at AERA are grateful that we've reached an agreement with the Air Force to provide us access with launch facilities and to provide radar, communication, telemetry and other support services to ensure the safety of all flight operations,” said Bill M. Sprague, AERA’s chairman, CEO and chief scientist. “Altairis will be launched from the same facilities where human spaceflight history was made with the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle missions.”

“While we still have much to do between now and our first launch, the Air Force has been extremely helpful to us so far,” said Lewis Reynolds, AERA’s president and chief operating officer.

Recently, AERA introduced its new interactive website, www.aeraspace.com. Visitors can access overviews on the company and space, management profiles, frequently asked questions, mailing lists, as well as dedicated areas for media and investors to download press kits, images and other valuable information.

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