A RECRUITMENT manager is hoping to win a competition that is out of this world.

Headington resident Dan Ryan said he had “almost forgotten” about applying for a competition to win a flight into space last October.

After being contacted last week, he was thrilled to discover he was one of only 30 applicants to make the shortlist to possibly be blasted into the stratosphere.

The MBA recruitment manager now has to wait until later this month to find out whether he is one of three finalists who will go to Bangkok to make his case on why he should be the one to fly to space.

The 27-year-old, originally from Adelaide, said: “When I was growing up in Australia we used to go on holidays for six weeks at a time, because we were home-schooled.

“There is no better place in the world really to see the stars in the night sky.

“Sitting under the canopy of stars, I always dreamt to go up there.

“Now that’s a possibility. It’s not for everyone but I would love to go.”

If he is selected to go into space, which will cost the equivalent of £65,000, he will spend several months preparing for the adventure with a zero-gravity flight, medical examinations and simulator flights.

The spacecraft that he could be flying in is called the XCOR, a two-man reusable plane that can fly nearly 38 miles above the earth’s surface.

Passengers will be able to see the planet’s curvature and experience zero-gravity while orbiting.

Although Mr Ryan would only experience space for a couple of hours, he said it would be a “life-changing” experience.

The competition has been set up by the Rising Stars Programme, which is supported by activists such as Sir Bob Geldof.

Alongside entrepreneurial not-for-profit group One Young World, it hopes to catapult “young world leaders” into the limelight to promote an important message.

Mr Ryan was previously a UN youth ambassador for Australia, and has spent time working in the fashion industry.

He now works at the Said Business School and wishes to put pressure on large companies and corporations to make them work with governments and developing countries to resolve issue around world poverty and help developing countries.

He added: “I think it’s important for businesses to work alongside NGOs [non-government organisations] and charities to help people in developing countries .

“I want to strive to a day when everyone works together as world citizens.”

As part of Mr Ryan’s bid to go to space, he needs supporters to share his profile on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

To share his profile or hear more about his story visit krugercowne.com/risingstar/shortlist/dan-ryan.