"Space Adventures is the latest of many unique experiences we offer to fuel our enrollees’ imaginations and prompt our cardmembers to ask not just what they can do with points, but how far they can go with them," said Chris Lynch, vice president, Rewards Management at American Express. "Without dipping into their wallets, cardmembers can redeem for an almost limitless number of things — like a journey to the cusp of space or a rejuvenating day at a luxurious spa — and use points to cover the costs."

American Express is offering three Space Adventures packages to enrollees who wish to experience the sights and sensations of space travel:

• Zero-Gravity Flight (1,000,000 points): Experience weightlessness by traveling in a specially outfitted jet aircraft that is used to train astronauts to work and test equipment in a weightless environment.

• Edge of Space Flight (3,000,000 points): Fly in a MiG-25 supersonic jet at up to two-and-one-half times the speed of sound (Mach 2.5) and above 80,000 feet, where one can see the curvature of the Earth and the blackness of space.

• Sub-Orbital Space Flight (20,000,000 points): Reserve your seat now for a ride aboard a sub-orbital spacecraft that will climb to an altitude of 62 miles, expose you to experience several minutes of weightlessness and treat you to Earth views from space.

Operations are based at various space and aviation facilities around the world, including the formerly top-secret Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. Packages include accommodations, as well as tours and onsite training.

"We are very excited to offer our space experiences programs through American Express. Our mission at Space Adventures is to open the space frontier to private citizens. With this partnership, we're doing just that," said Eric Anderson, president and CEO of Space Adventures. "There are few things that are more exhilarating than the feeling of weightlessness or seeing the curvature of Earth and the blackness of space while traveling at two times the speed of sound."

More Experiences Redeemable with Membership Rewards Points

The country's largest card-based rewards program, the Membership Rewards program includes hundreds of shopping, entertainment and retail rewards. The program allows cardmembers to earn one point for virtually every dollar charged on eligible, enrolled American Express® Cards. Cards linked to rewards can deliver double bonus points for purchases in "Everyday Spend" categories — supermarkets, gas stations, drug stores, the U.S. Postal Service and wireless phone payments — to accelerate point earnings.1

Through Your Reward®, a feature available to all Membership Rewards enrollees, cardmembers can also create their own unique redemption packages, or choose from a number of pre-built packages that include rock climbing excursions, polo instruction and in-home gourmet cooking instruction from a personal chef.2

Visit www.americanexpress.com/membershiprewards for a complete list of Membership Rewards benefits, or call 1-800-AXP-EARN to redeem points.

Space Adventures, the world’s leading space flight experiences and space tourism company, offers a wide range of programs, from Zero-Gravity and Edge of Space flights, cosmonaut training and space flight qualification programs, to reservations on future sub-orbital spacecraft. Headquartered in Arlington, Va., with an office in Moscow, Space Adventures is the only company to have successfully launched private individuals to the International Space Station. The company's advisory board comprises Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin; shuttle astronauts Kathy Thornton, Robert (Hoot) Gibson, Charles Walker, Norm Thagard, Sam Durrance and Byron Lichtenberg; and Skylab astronaut Owen Garriott. Please visit www.spaceadventures.com.

American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a world leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, business services, insurance and international banking.

1 Offer applies at qualifying stand-alone supermarkets, drugstores, gas stations, the U.S. Postal Service and for payments to your wireless phone bill. Not valid in departments of superstores or warehouse clubs.

2 Your Reward packages are subject to availability. Terms and conditions may apply. Your Reward only fulfills requests using vendors that accept the American Express Card. Unless otherwise noted all gratuities and taxes are included in the point value of the package.