NASA Scientist Wins Free Space Trip on Rocket Plane

摘要

A NASA scientist has won a free flight to suborbital space, but he may not be able to claim the prize. Thomas Goodwin, a physiology and bio-engineering researcher at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, won a suborbital flight on XCOR Aerospace's Lynx vehicle, a $95,000 value. Goodwin's name was randomly selected Feb. 27 at the Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference in Palo Alto, Calif. "I'm not sure I can accept this," Goodwin said, referencing his status as a government employee, which may prevent him from using the prize. "I'm very surprised." If government regulations and red tape prohibit Goodwin from claiming the award, a backup is ready to step up; XCOR officials drew an alternate name just in case. Conference attendees who registered in advance were entered in the drawing.