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Last October, gaming guru Richard Garriott blasted into space aboard a Russian rocket on its way to the international space station. On Saturday, Austin audiences will get their chance to hear what happened as Garriott gives two presentations (2:30 pm and 8 pm) at the Zachary Scott Theater Center.
Garriott paid $30 million to become the sixth private citizen to go into space, and went through eight months of demanding preparation at Russia's cosmonaut training ground. During his 12-day mission, Garriott sent radio transmissions and photographs back to Earth, and participated in the Windows on Earth project, which provides an interactive view of the planet from the space station.
Although his fortune has come from designing computer games like Ultima and Tabula Rasa, Garriott's interest in space goes back to his boyhood. His father, Owen Garriott, was an astronaut who flew Skylab and space shuttle missions. Richard's goal to follow in his father's footsteps was derailed by poor eyesight, but he never lost his desire to head into space.
Saturday's presentations will include artifacts and photos from his private collection, plus never-before-seen videos of aspects of space travel. There also will be a Q&A with the audience as part of his presentation.
Tickets are available for $65 ($35 for those 12 and under), and $15 student tickets are available for the 2 pm presentation.
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Whhaa??? $65 to look at a rich guy's science fair exhibit? Don't get me wrong, I've met Garriott and he's a genuinely nice guy, but I can't imagine why he's charging so much. I could understand if it was for science scholarships or something redeeming, but to pay a millionairre $65 simply to hear him recount his brief and uneventful encounter with outer space? No thanksn Astro-boy!