http://www.teamworkersusa.com/asa-approved/
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
DeMarini 2011 Slowpitch Softball Bats – NOT Approved for ASA
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Aviation GPS Trainer Software for Garmin GNS 430/530, Honeywell, and more $48.00 ASA’s GPS Trainer V.2.0 – Perfect for renters who may face one brand of GPS one day and another the next…for the instructor teaching in multiple aircraft…for aircraft owners trying to master the nuances of their favorite navigational tool. ASA has expanded the popular software product GPS Trainer, adding 3 more GPS unit tutorials for a total training package of 6 of the most popular IFR-appro… |
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ADDON – NETWORK UPGRADES 512MB DRAM F/CISCO ASA 5505 OEM APPROVED FACTORY ORIGINAL $86.98 512 MB (1 x 512 MB) – SDRAM – 240-pin DIMM… |
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2GB DRAM F/CISCO ASA 5520 MEM OEM APPROVED FACTORY ORIGINAL $211.98 2GB DRAM F/CISCO ASA 5520 OEM APPROVED FACTORY ORIGINAL… |
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New – AddOn – Memory Upgrades FACTORY APPROVED 2GB DRAM F/CISCO ASA 5520 – ASA5520-MEM-2GB-AO $292.78 Manufacturer/Supplier: AddOn – Network Upgrades Manufacturer Part Number: ASA5520-MEM-2GB-AO Brand Name: AddOn – Network Upgrades Product Model: ASA5520-MEM-2GB-AO Product Name: Factory Approved 2GB DRAM F/Cisco ASA 5520 Marketing Information: These are FACTORY ORIGINAL AVL APPROVED parts for Cisco (Micron, Samsung, Hynix, etc). AVL means these parts are manufactured buy those vendors approved to … |
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Louisville Slugger 2011 TPS (-12) Catalyst Fastpitch Bat 28in/16oz $89.95 The FP11C2 is designed with aerospace grade graphite composite material and and features S1 iD technology. The new S1 iD technology allows the barrel to flex to its maximum allowable performance leve from SWING 1…. |
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Worth UHD12SY Hot Dot USSSA Classic Plus Slowpitch Yellow PROTAC Softball, Dozen (12-Inch) $39.99 Hot Dot Slowpitch UHD12SY by Worth. The Worth Hot Dot Classic Plus Softballs are designed to give players consistent hit distance at all temperatures. This is especially true in hot weather conditions, when other balls dramatically drop in performance and distance. These slowpitch softballs measure 12″ in diameter and feature the distinctive blue stitching and PROTAC cover for superior grip and ba… |
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Champro RSP44 Slow Pitch 12 Softballs – DZ $45.99 Champro Sport’s RSP44 softballs are an inexpensive solution to ASA approved slow pitch softballs! 12″ design with a white Durahide synthetic leather cover and flat seams with red stitching. Cork and rubber core. .44 COR, 375 compression. Ideal for recreational slow pitch softball games. Priced for one dozen softballs…. |
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Evil Ball ASA HOT .44 Cor .375 Comp Yellow $60.88 Evil Sports 12 inch ASA 44 core 375 compression. Designed to resist thermal fade found when temps exceed 85. This ball will change the way you think about 44 cor balls. This Sucker Flys!!! 1 Dozen… |
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Worth SBWBTA-34 ASA Slowpitch Softball Bat (28-Ounce) $54.95 Worth Toxic Bamboo Bat…Improved Feel! Worth Toxic Bamboo Wood Slow Pitch Softball Bats feature: Laminated bamboo core and maple hitting surface Increased durability and improved feel Engineered specifically for softball 21/4″ barrel Approved by ASA, USSSA, NSA, ISF Length/Weight: 34″-28 oz *Note: MINUS (-) DROP: Refers to the differential between the length and weight of a bat. As an example a (… |
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Miken Freak FX 700 ASA Balanced Bat $299.99 With HBF Technology and the largest sweetspot in the industry, this 100% high performance composite design creates the ideal bat for players preferring balanced loading to maximize bat control. Hyperbolic Barrel Flex Technology. R900, X-Tack Xtreme. Advanced InnerFlex Technology. 100 Comp. MADE IN USA…. |
