Event Tickets

–Some Things You Just Don't Wanna Miss–

Tickets Philips

Dawn of the Citizen Astronaut: ASA Agents Have Your Ticket

By Philip A. Janquart

NewSpace Magazine

 

BOISE, ID — Kevin Loveless stood in the midst of the dry, barren wasteland that is White Sands, New Mexico. When the bus that brought him there pulled away, he was struck with awe at the vision beyond it.

 

"We saw the future right there in front us," He said.

 

Loveless stood with a group of fellow Accredited Space Agents (ASA's) gathered from around the world as they got their first in-person glimpse of Spaceport America, the first-ever civilian spaceport being built by the citizens of New Mexico. Dona Ana and Sierra County Voters approved a $40 million spaceport tax in 2008, funding the project and making the state not only a bookmark in space industry history but, now, a launch point for the future.

 

"It looked like a giant mushroom, but you hardly knew it was there because they've built it into the environment," Loveless said. "It just looked like it belonged there."

 

President of Global Travel in Boise, Loveless recently returned from his second ASA forum at Spaceport America, an event designed to familiarize agents with the facilities, as well as New Mexico and its rich, and sometimes surprising, industry history. The forum, held October 4 through 8, included stops at the National Solar Observatory and the New Mexico Museum of Space History.

 

Loveless is one of 75 ASA's in the America's and Australia, and one of 128 in 33 countries worldwide authorized by Virgin Galactic to sell vacation packages to future civilian astronauts.

 

There are fewer than 500 people who have been to space, but Virgin Galactic plans on increasing those numbers beginning next year, when it sends the first private spacecraft, SpaceShip Two, (a.k.a. VSS Enterprise) beyond the mesosphere into the lower thermosphere. It will carry two pilots and six private citizens, giving them the unique opportunity to see Earth from 62 miles, or 327,360 feet above sea level. Tickets are $200,000 a piece, and those eager to become space travel pioneers can make a deposit of $20,000 to reserve a seat on a future flight.

 

"So far there are a total of 370 tickets sold, with about $50 million in protected deposits," said Loveless, who began the process of becoming an ASA in January 2009. "This really gets me excited from a travel perspective. I have two or three individuals who are very interested (in buying tickets). I'm actually interested in it myself."

 

Loveless became involved in selling seats on spacecraft through his membership with Virtuoso, the industry leader in luxury travel and Virgin Galactic's retail sales channel since 2006. Virtuoso is a "By-invitation-only" organization, comprising over 300 agencies with more than 6,000 elite travel specialists in 22 countries. The company, which also publishes a magazine under the same name, has exclusive rights to sell Virgin Galactic space travel in the Americas, extending those rights to member agents.

 

Prospective agents must attend training with Virgin Galactic, giving them expert knowledge in guiding prospective space customers.

 

To read the entire story, log on to www.newspacemagazine.com

 

 

About the Author

how does the toronto film festival happen?

is it like a big screen tv at like nithin philips square? Do you have to buy tickets?

The film festival basically works like this: a ton of films are shown at different times in several different indoor movie theatres. For example, some TIFF movies are shown in that huge theatre on Richmond St., the one with the really long, tall escalators. Some are shown in the new AMC theatres at Yonge and Dundas. Some are even shown in the Royal Ontario Museum! There are about 10 different theatre locations where TIFF movies are shown.

It's not outdoor, and it's not free - tickets are more expensive than a usual movie ticket, depending on your age and whether you're eligible for discounts. It usually costs $20 to see one film, or $17 if you're a student or senior. You have to buy your tickets either at the venue (the theatre where the film you want to see is being screened) or at the film festival box office (a white tent at Nathan Phillips Square). You can also buy tickets over the phone or online if you have a credit card. If your film sells out, you have to wait in a special line at the theatre called the "rush line", hoping there will be extra tickets.

You can browse the TIFF website to find movies that you're interested in, or read newspapers like EYE and NOW that recommend good movies. Or you can just figure out when you have time to watch one (i.e Tuesday from 7pm to 11pm) and choose from the movies screening at that time.

Frankly though, I don't bother...it's too complicated and expensive for me. I prefer smaller film festivals that are easier and cheaper...I don't really want to spend more than $10 for a movie. If you decide to try it, though, good luck!

Shawn Michaels' 2011 WWE Hall of Fame Inductor Is.....