User:Dennizenx/Rising Star Programme by Kruger Cowne

Rising Star Programme grew out of Spaceship Earth Grants (SEG) which was a public benefit corporation founded with the support of former astronauts Leland Melvin and Ron Garan [aa], whose mission was to make space more accessible through human spaceflight and parabolic flight awards to individual applicants. SEG planned to award one crowd-funded spaceflight for every 50,000 applications received through the initial contest period of September 15, 2014 - December 31, 2014 [bb]. SEG also planned to award humanitarian and environmental technology grants to individuals and organizations judged likely to make a positive impact on planet Earth. On June 12, 2015, SpaceShip Earth Grants announced that Kruger Cowne had assumed management of the contest. The initial prize flight was to occur on an XCOR Aerospace Lynx Spacecraft, but as of August 2017, that vehicles development has been suspended. It is unclear whether another vehicle will be employed at this time as no company is yet offering this type of publicly accessible commercial spaceflights whatsoever, as of August 1, 2017. This contest is significant for being the first time that members of the global public had ever been offered an opportunity to win a free ride on a commercial spaceflight as a contest prize.

Spaceflight awards
Individuals paid an application fee and submitted an application to be considered for a sub-orbital spaceflight or weightless/parabolic flight. Winners have their choice of currently available spacecraft providers at the time of award announcement.

On November 21, 2015, at the One Young World conference, the winner of the Rising Star competition was announced—Hussain Manawer of London, England. [cc]

Grants
Grants we to be awarded to fund, support, and move forward organizations and projects that make a positive impact on planet Earth, including: projects or organizations making a significant improvement in the health of the environment, technologies that improve the quality of life for humanity, S.T.E.A.M. educational programs, and humanitarian efforts that are making a difference in the lives of people in the world.

Spaceship Earth Grants reportedly planned to make initial grants to partner organizations: Fragile Oasis, The Overview Institute, The Planetary Society, and Project Nominate.