Scott Johnson, Olympic gold medalist, three time National Champion, and 2006 Olympic Hall of Fame inductee, has been invited to send his DNA into space as part of NCsoft's Operation Immortality.

Operation Immortality (TM), a project intended to collect and archive the very best of what humanity has accomplished, is creating a digital time capsule of the human race, including messages from people around the world and DNA samples from some of our brightest minds and most accomplished athletes. Scott Johnson, Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics, three-time National Champion and 2006 USA Olympic Hall of Fame inductee, now stands among those who have been asked to participate in Operation Immortality's mission to preserve the most talented and influential people of our time, and has submitted his DNA to be added to the capsule.

Johnson, represented by 4U Management in Orlando, Florida, is most commonly known for leading the U.S. Men's Olympic gymnastics team to victory in 1984 in Los Angeles, when he emerged out of nowhere to win the title and help the U.S. win its first gymnastics team medal since the early 1930's. He then went on to captain the U.S. Men's Olympic Team in the 1988 games, before retiring later that year.

Now, twenty years later, Scott is once again being recognized by being invited to add his DNA to the "Immortality Drive" and have it placed upon the International Space Station (ISS) when video gaming luminary Richard Garriott makes the exhilarating journey to the ISS on Oct. 12, 2008.

"Participating in Operation Immortality is an incredible privilege," says Johnson. "Knowing that my DNA will be immortalized for all time and that I have been chosen as one of mankind's most "accomplished athletes" is truly an honor."

The "Immortality Drive," is currently in the process of being loaded with information from people all over the world at the OperationImmortality.com website. Players in Garriott's latest game, Tabula Rasa®, will also have their character information downloaded onto the drive.

"This is your chance to leave your mark," says Garriott. "I'm thrilled to have Scott Johnson on board with me."

Mankind is encouraged to submit their suggestions for humanity's greatest achievements, and leave their immortalized message for future generations. A select few may also have their DNA chosen to join Garriott, Johnson and other icons on an out-of-this-world experience, and possibly become the future of mankind.