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Fans arrive at the San Diego Convention Center before preview night at Comic-Con on Wednesday July 11, 2012, in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Invision/AP)

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Comic-Con 2012

2012 San Diego Comic-Con International

See highlights from this year's convention.

Comic-Con wraps after 4 days

This year's 43rd annual Comic-Con festival may be over but …

Comic-Con: Daytime pop culture, nighttime parties

Comic-Con: Pop culture and parties

After the convention center closes for the night, the streets …

'Game of Thrones' additions rouse Comic-Con fans

'Game of Thrones' rouses Comic-Con fans

The 73-year-old actress and several others were revealed Friday…

Farrell goes to remake mode in 'Recall'

Farrell told fans at the Comic-Con convention on Friday that …

'Big Bang' fan wins space flight at Comic-Con

Updated: Friday, 13 Jul 2012, 5:26 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 13 Jul 2012, 5:26 PM EDT

DERRIK J. LANG,AP Entertainment Writer

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Thousands of Comic-Con attendees grab free swag at the pop-culture convention, but one lucky fan nabbed the ultimate prize: a trip to space.

Fans who lined up Friday to question the stars of CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" were given silver envelopes with one containing a ticket for a space flight from XCOR Aerospace on the Lynx Experience. It's a two-seat launch vehicle that takes off and lands like a traditional aircraft.

The flight was first offered on stage by former NASA astronaut Richard Searfoss to co-star Simon Helberg. He declined. His character, Howard, blasted off into space at the end of the fifth season.

"Big Bang" star Jim Parsons joined the panel on a monitor via satellite, and Johnny Galecki was absent because of a flight delay.