Thu, Jul 03, 2003
Southern California Businessman and
private space travel pioneer Dennis Tito has been elected to the X
PRIZE Foundation Board of Trustees. "I'm joining the X PRIZE
Foundation Board of Trustees because I'd like to see a new
generation of privately owned and operated spaceships. These are
the ships that will fly thousands of people into space on an annual
basis."
Mr. Tito is one of two civilian space travelers who have ridden
with the Russian Space Agency to the International Space Station.
Tito explains "Millions of people could easily be qualified for
space. Once the price of traveling to space comes down to the price
of an SUV, I think we'll see thousands of people sign up."
Founder and Chairman of the X PRIZE Foundation and fellow
California businessman Dr. Peter Diamandis stated "We are very
excited to have Dennis join our Board of Trustees. His dedication
to this field and position as a spokesperson for this emerging
public space travel industry will help make X PRIZE a visible and
global success."
Mr. Tito created the Wilshire
5000 stock index, the broadest indicator of US stock market
activity. By 1998, Wilshire Associates was the third-largest
investment management consulting firm in the U.S. -- its 250
specialists advised clients with a total of half a trillion dollars
in assets. Since the early 1990s, Mr. Tito has concentrated on
philanthropic projects, such as building a medical research
facility at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Mr. Tito received his B.S. from New York University College of
Engineering in astronautics and aeronautics in 1962 and an M.S. in
Engineering Science from Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute in 1964.
He resides in Santa Monica (CA).
Also elected to the X PRIZE Board were Diane Murphy, Vice
President, Communications at the European Aeronautical Defense
& Space Company (EADS) and Barry Thompson, career entrepreneur
and CTO of JBThompson, LLC.
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