The Aero-News Network (ANN), the Aviation World's DAILY News Service (http://www.aero-news.net), has been designated by the X PRIZE Foundation to provide specialized news and news pool services for the upcoming activities of the Countdown to the X PRIZE CUP, October 6-9, 2005 in Southern New Mexico.

The Countdown to the X PRIZE CUP is the inaugural event of the future X PRIZE CUP competitions, an annual event hosted by the X PRIZE Foundation and Office of Economic Development of the State of New Mexico.

Aero-News covered the intensive air-to-air photographic effort that documented Astronaut Mike Melvill's successful June 21st sub-orbital flight to just over 100km and the first successful X Prize flight on September 29th, 2004. This effort produced striking images and stories that were seen by tens of millions of people all over the world. ANN staffers also provided expert news resources to numerous media outlets of Brian Binnie's winning ANSARI X PRIZE flight on October 4, 2004.

ANN Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, has also recently been selected by the X PRIZE-inspired Rocket Racing League to be one of four founding pilots, along with Rick Searfoss, Sean Tucker and Erik Lindbergh, to command the forthcoming new generation of Mark 1 Rocket Racers which will debut at next year's X Prize Cup event.

"Jim Campbell and Aero News Network (ANN) are proven professionals and we are pleased that they will be supporting our newest efforts in New Mexico during the Countdown to the X PRIZE CUP. This is a unique event that will transform how the world looks at spaceflight and a major incentive for the development of the personal spaceflight industry.

Staffed by a solid group of aviation journalists, aviators, photographers and test pilots, ANN is uniquely qualified to render expert aviation and aerospace news services to the world on behalf of the X PRIZE Foundation.

Aero-News will be tasked with supporting the series of events with air-to-air photography, daily progress reports, specialized interviews, and radio updates.

ANN Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell noted that: "We're thrilled to have another ring-side seat to history, and look forward to helping the world see and understand that private access to space is a part of all our futures."

News organizations in need of pool photography and news materials are instructed to contact the Aero-News Network at 800-356-7767 or via publisher@aero-news.net to work out all special requirements well in advance of the week's events.

A complete listing of the events from Thursday, October 6 through Sunday, October 9 can be found at the X PRIZE Foundation X PRIZE CUP website.

FMI: www.xpcup.com