LAS CRUCES, NM (September 2007) - The X PRIZE Foundation, Holloman Air Force Base and the State of New Mexico announced a significant expansion of this year’s Wirefly X PRIZE Cup, which will be held at Holloman Air Force Base and Las Cruces October 26-28, 2007.

A true “rocket festival” held in beautiful New Mexico, the Wirefly X Prize Cup celebrates science, technology, space exploration and interactive education.  The general public experiences how dreams about new frontiers come true through real-time competition for new aerospace technologies.

The event will commence with a two-day symposium at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces followed by a first-ever combined Air & Space Show.   This year’s show will include the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge – a two-level, $2 million competition requiring a vehicle to simulate trips between the moon’s surface and lunar orbit, The Double Vee-the only remaining aircraft to train Tuskegee airmen, Wings of Blue & Red Bull skydivers, F-22, F-117, F-16, F-15 and F-4 flyovers, Aerobatic Demos, WW II Airplanes  and Heritage Flights, along with 30 acres of ground displays featuring spaceships, Air Force aircraft, robots and rovers.

Staybridge Suites Las Cruces employees will volunteer to participate in Education Day on Friday, October 26th.  The day highlights include Educational activities and competitions, astronaut talks, and aircraft demo flights for students.

For more information, visit www.xprizecup.com or call (310) 576-3473.  To make hotel reservations, call (505) 521-7999.