LAS VEGAS, Jan. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight-year-old boys dream of being
 superheroes -- flying high above the clouds with nothing to limit
 themselves but their imaginations. For young adventurer Danner Cronise,
 Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G (R)), the first and only FAA-approved
 provider of commercial weightless flights, turned this dream into reality
 and enabled Danner to fly like Superman and enjoy 10-times more hang-time
 than the world's best basketball player -- all while making history as the
 youngest person ever to experience a weightless flight.
 
     (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080102/LAW073)
 
     Danner's adventure truly was a family affair, as he was joined by his
 father Ray, and older sisters Erin (10) and Alex (12). A NASA engineer for
 more than 15 years and a co-founder of ZERO-G, Ray Cronise had a unique and
 personal reason for wanting to see his children enjoy weightlessness first
 hand. "It is awe inspiring to be able to take your kids on such a memorable
 experience. Being exposed to these kinds of adventures kindles curiosity
 and keeps them dreaming," said Ray. Each of his three children had
 different reasons for loving their ZERO-G experience:
 
 

     -- Danner loved being tossed like a ball across the plane cabin and was
        fascinated to see how droplets of water hovered in the air before his
        eyes during zero gravity. On being the youngest person ever to
        experience a weightless flight, Danner said, "It makes me feel good and
        very lucky. The flight was so cool.  I was floating and flipping, just
        like the astronauts in space." He added, "I showed my friends pictures
        and they all want to go now too. Can I do it again next week?"
 
     -- Erin, an aspiring gymnast, said her favorite part was "being able to do
        a back flip without needing someone to spot me like in class; I felt
        like the best gymnast in the world! During one of the first weightless
        moments, I did a back handspring -- I was so excited!"
 
     -- Alex, the eldest of the three, loved every moment and was especially
        amused when her coach told her to release a handful of M&M's into the
        air so she could watch them float before her and chase them down like
        PacMan. When asked if she would do it again, Alex responded, "Of course
        I would! It's the most fun thing ever that I have ever done -- more fun
        than Disneyworld!"
 
     Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, CEO and Co-Founder of ZERO-G said, "The most
 important part about the Cronise's family adventure is that it underscores
 what is at the core of the ZERO-G philosophy. We break the paradigm of this
 incredible sensation of floating being reserved for fairy tales or
 second-hand experiences and enable people to really fly and feel and see it
 first-hand. There is no comparison for the experience that ZERO-G delivers
 -- it is pure exhilaration from the moment you arrive, throughout the
 flight, and lives on through many talks with others that have never been."
 
     The experience offered by ZERO-G is the only commercial opportunity on
 Earth for individuals to experience true "weightlessness" without going to
 space. The ZERO-G Experience consists of a brief training session for
 passengers followed by a 90-minute flight aboard G-Force One. Each ZERO-G
 mission is designed for maximum fun. The aircraft's interior is a zero
 gravity playroom, complete with padded floors and walls and video cameras
 to record the unforgettable moments. The flight includes 15 weightless
 experiences (parabolas) that last approximately 30 seconds each and range
 from low-gravity environments typical of the moon (1/6 G) and Mars (1/3 G)
 to complete weightlessness; ZERO-G delivers twice the amount of weightless
 time achieved in a typical sub-orbital flight into space. ZERO-G operates
 under the highest safety standards as set by the FAA (Part-121) with its
 partner Amerijet International of Ft. Lauderdale Florida. Aircraft
 operations take place under the same regulations set for large commercial
 passenger airliners.
 
     Weightless flight is an experience that few have tried, but those who
 have call it amazing and life-changing. Martha Stewart, Professor Stephen
 Hawking, Princess Beatrice of York, Amy Grant, Billy Bush, Burt Rutan,
 Miles O'Brien, and cast members of "The Apprentice," and "The Biggest
 Loser" are just a few notable passengers who've flown with ZERO-G. Numerous
 astronauts including Buzz Aldrin and Anousheh Ansari also have experienced
 ZERO-G voyages. ZERO-G has played a major role in several blockbuster hits
 including Matrix 2 and Matrix 3. Since launching the ZERO-G Experience to
 the general public in September 2004, the company has conducted more than
 100 weightless flights and flown over 3,000 passengers, including
 celebrities and media personalities, corporate charters, science and math
 teachers, and individuals age 12 to 93.
 
     About ZERO-G
 
     Zero Gravity Corporation (http://www.GoZeroG.com) is a privately held
 space entertainment and tourism company whose mission is to make the
 excitement and adventure of weightlessness accessible to the public. ZERO-G
 is based in Las Vegas and Florida and is the first and only FAA-approved
 provider of weightless flight to the general public, as well as the
 entertainment and film industries; corporate and incentive market;
 non-profit research and education sectors; and government.
 
     Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Las Vegas, ZERO-G is led by a
 world-class team of veteran astronauts and experienced business leaders.
 The company was co-founded by X PRIZE Chairman and space visionary, Dr.
 Peter H. Diamandis; and veteran astronaut, Dr. Byron K. Lichtenberg. The
 duo spent more than a decade working to bring the marvel of weightless
 flight to the public.
 
     The ZERO-G Experience (TM), which includes training led by a
 professional astronaut, a flight of 15 parabolas, flight suit,
 complimentary merchandise, awards, a post-event party, photos, and a DVD of
 the flight, is offered at a price of $3,500 per seat. For the current
 flight schedule, more information or to book a seat, visit
 http://www.GoZeroG.com, http://www.sharperimage.com or call 1-800-937-6480.
 
     ZERO-G flights also may be chartered for private events. Since 2004,
 individual groups of family and friends to top- tier consumer brands like
 American Express, Hewlett-Packard, Google and Cadbury Schweppes have
 chartered ZERO-G flights. The ZERO-G Experience builds deep common memories
 that no ordinary gravity-bound exercise can equal. It is a unique way to
 express gratitude to important clients and partners. Flights can be
 rewards, incentives, celebrations and even revenue mechanisms for
 charitable institutions.
 
 
 

SOURCE Zero Gravity Corporation

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