Arizona father of two wins Space Needle’s ‘Space Race’

SEATTLE – Gregory Schneider, a 28-year-old father of two who just completed law school, is headed into space on the Seattle Space Needle’s dime.

Schneider, of Tucson, Ariz., beat out thousands of other candidates to win the Space Needle’s 50th anniversary “Space Race 2012” contest Wednesday.

Schneider completed his law school classes in Tucson May 3, won the “space race” competition Wednesday and will take part in his law school graduation ceremony on Saturday.

The other competitor to reach the final challenge was Sara Cook, 26, a diplomatic assistant at the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C.

The two took turns climbing the antenna on the top of the Space Needle for the best time, and then answered questions and solved puzzles as they walked around the intimidating “halo” – on the outside – of the Space Needle’s observation deck 605 feet above the ground. Schneider ended up with the best time.

Schneider will be launched on a sub-orbital trip into space, more than 62 miles above Earth, by the private firm Space Adventures Ltd. The trip is valued at $110,000.