posted 04-18-2007 05:52 PM               

Former Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin is drawing up plans for a lottery-like contest, with space experiences for prizes, in hopes of making orbital spaceflight available to more than just wealthy entrepreneurs.

Billed as the ShareSpace Stakes, the contest is envisioned to function as part of Aldrin’s ShareSpace Foundation, a firm designed to promote interest in human spaceflight and science education.

“It’s something akin to a sweepstakes or a raffle,” Aldrin said Tuesday during the Space Investment Summit here, adding that many details remain to be determined. “We have yet to set up the rules and regulations.”

Aldrin said any entrants would have to be age 18 or older to enter the ShareSpace Stakes, and any winners would likely be required to satisfy the appropriate health requirements for spaceflight.