World's First Female 'Private Space Explorer' Scheduled for Liftoff

Anousheh Ansari has been selected to join the primary crew of the Soyuz TMA-9, which will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. She will be joining the Expedition 14 crew members, NASA astronaut Michael Lopez- Alegria and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin.

"This is a dream that I've longed for since childhood," said Anousheh Ansari, chairman and co-founder of Prodea Systems. "I'm fascinated by the mystery and beauty of the cosmos. I deeply believe that the long term survival of the human race will largely depend on our achievements in space exploration. I'm hoping my flight will inspire our young generation to answer the challenges of space exploration and enter a field that in the past has been dominated by a handful of government agencies."

Anousheh Ansari is the fourth private explorer to visit the ISS, and the first astronaut of Iranian descent. Her trip will include two days orbiting earth and eight days aboard the ISS.

"This incredible achievement is just another amazing tale in Anousheh's life," said husband Hamid Ansari, chief executive officer, president and co- founder of Prodea Systems. "Going into space has been a life long dream for Anousheh. She completed her rigorous training with great determination and passion. We are all very proud of her and her many accomplishments."

An active proponent of world-changing technologies, Anousheh Ansari has been immersed in the space industry for years. Anousheh Ansari along with Amir Ansari, her brother-in-law, and co-founder and chief technical officer of Prodea Systems, provided the title sponsorship for the Ansari X Prize, a $10 million cash prize awarded to Burt Rutan in 2004, for the first non- governmental organization to launch a reusable manned spacecraft into space twice within two weeks.

"Anousheh is a compassionate visionary who cares deeply about our future, the ideal space ambassador to show us what traveling in space really feels like," said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Founder and Chairman of the X PRIZE Foundation. "Now as she travels to orbit, the X PRIZE looks forward to helping her share her personal experience worldwide."

"Anousheh has spent most of her life feeding and nurturing the spirit of entrepreneurship, including the Ansari X Prize, Prodea Systems and now commercial space flight," Amir Ansari said. "Anousheh has always believed that these investments promote the kind of revolutionary ideas that will make our world a better place and spread the seeds of social entrepreneurship."

Anousheh Ansari immigrated to the United States as a teenager who did not speak English. She immersed herself in education, earning a bachelor's degree in electronics and computer engineering from George Mason University, followed by a master's degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University.

Anousheh Ansari parlayed that education into a successful telecommunications company, telecom technologies, inc., where she served as co-founder, chief executive officer and chairman of the board until January 2000, when the company successfully merged with Sonus Networks, Inc. Along the way, she earned two key U.S. patents, was awarded the Working Woman magazine's Entrepreneurial Excellence Award and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award (Southwest Region).

"We, at Space Adventures, congratulate Anousheh for being officially certified for spaceflight. As the first female private space explorer, she is proclaiming that space travel is not for a select few, but for all of us. She is an inspiration to all who pursue their dreams, no matter the challenges that they may face. Her time to fly is now; we celebrate her dedication and we wish her an awe-inspiring mission," said Eric Anderson, president and CEO of Space Adventures, Ltd., the provider of the spaceflight experience and the only company in the world today capable of providing commercial space travel.