Beverly Rother: Booking Trips to Space

South Florida travel agent Beverly Rother is one of only 76 agents in the US selected by Virgin Galactic to sell suborbital space flights — at $200,000 a seat. Premier Guide Miami sat down to find out what that means — and what comes next.

Space exploration will no longer be only for the rich and famous. Sir Richard Branson and his team have introduced Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo — the space vehicle developed by Scaled Composites to take private passengers to space. The initial flight will cost $200,000, which will eventually come down to $20,000. Six astronauts per flight will travel to 360,000 feet, experiencing 3 to 6 minutes of weightlessness.

To sell these trips, the Virgin Group selected a group of experienced travel agents worldwide. Among the 76 accredited space agents in the US is South Florida's own Beverly Rother of Forest Travel, a member of Virtuoso — the exclusive retail travel agency network for Virgin Galactic throughout the Americas.

PGM: Congrats on being selected for this unique opportunity.

BR: Thank you. I am excited. I am actually one of the 76 agents in the US who was selected for this special program.

PGM: How was the unveiling?

BR: It was exciting — a Hollywood-style celebration, a long runway with the evolution of spacecraft. Each symbol was on a flag, they blasted music, and had the spacecraft come out in blackness and darkness. There were 800 people in attendance. It was the most exciting thing I have ever done. The enthusiasm, the excitement, the actual reality of this — it blew everybody away completely.

PGM: What is included in the space package?

BR: Once you're confirmed with at least a 10-percent deposit, you'll receive a welcome pack and special insider updates, including invitations to events with your fellow astronauts. Included is a 3-day training program at Spaceport America, where you'll be issued a Philippe Starck-designed space suit, undergo G-Force and weightlessness training, and full preflight training. Each flight holds 6 astronauts, all with a window view, along with 2 pilots. After takeoff you'll fly to 50,000 feet and hear the countdown. The spaceship releases and accelerates you into a vertical climb reaching Mach 1 within 30 seconds, then Mach 3.4. After 90 seconds, the pilots cut the motors and the spaceship climbs to 68 miles above Earth. You'll experience total silence and zero G for the next 4 to 5 minutes. Then a thrilling 90-second reentry, peaking at nearly 6 Gs, and a glide safely back to Earth to collect your astronaut wings.

PGM: When is the first flight?

BR: In 12 to 24 months. It could be sooner if the testing goes well. The first spacecraft goes up with Sir Richard Branson and his family — his children and his mother — just to show everyone it is safe. You have to be at least 18 years of age to participate. Right now we have a passenger who is 84 years old who has signed up.

PGM: Do you see space tourism expanding?

BR: Absolutely. They will have 4 to 5 different spacecraft and they will go up to space every 4 days after a 3-day training is completed. This is just the beginning.

PGM: Fewer than 500 people have ever been to space...

BR: That is what's intriguing about this. It is going to be accessible to everyone.

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