Local Man Among Finalists for Space Trip

Self-described “sci-fi geek” Mark Johnson may soon have a chance to go where few men — or women — have gone before.

Johnson is one of 15 database administrators — including six from the U.S. — who are finalists in a Red Gate Software contest. The winner will be selected through a combination of online voting and a panel of judges.

“I have always wondered what it would be like to go into space, but never dreamed it would be possible for me,” Johnson said in his contest entry info. “When I entered the DBA in Space contest I thought about taking the cash prize and paying off my kids' student loans, but they insist they would rather see me in space.”

Johnson is one of 15 finalists, selected from a pool of 5,500 entrants from the U.S., United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Germany.

“We've been blown away by the number of entrants to DBA in Space and the judges had an incredibly tough job whittling it down to just 15 finalists,? said Neil Davidson, joint-CEO of Red Gate in release from the company. “Now the battle begins in earnest to win the public vote. One database administrator will be eligible to blast off into space and have a really Happy Christmas … ”

Johnson, who lives on the Arden Hills-Roseville border and works for Minnesota-based Medtronic, said the trip really would be a dream come true.

“I have always wanted to view the earth from space. In the vastness of space, we have not found any other planet so beautiful or full of life,” said the married father of three. “Besides that I am a science fiction geek. How could I turn down a space adventure?”

To vote for Johnson or any of the other 14 finalists, go to https://dbainspace.com/finalists/.