The Tulsa World Newspaper Article.
JASON ASHLEY WRIGHT World Scene Writer
01/20/2007
Tulsa World (Final Home Edition), Page D1 of Family
View in Print (PDF) Format
Eric Singleton has superimposed his face on a photo of Capt. James T. Kirk from "Star Trek."
Native Tulsan sets sights on becoming space traveler
Eric Singleton loves adventure and travel.
“Like the old American frontiersman, I love seeing what is over the next hill,” he said.
What’s beyond that hill for Singleton isn’t plain ol’ greener pastures. It’s the vast darkness of space — “the next frontier,” he said.
This Tulsa native, who currently lives in Korea, has a Web site dedicated to his dream of space travel at www.ericinspace.com. And he’s asking for your help to get there.
“I have dreamed of traveling in space my whole life,” said Singleton in a recent e-mail exchange. “Only now do we live in an age where it is possible.”
Singleton grew up in Tulsa, and graduated from Cascia Hall in 1997. After that, he pursued a degree in history from the University of Oklahoma, finishing in 2003. He also worked for the Philbrook Museum of Art, as well as serving as archeology curator at the Gilcrease Museum.
Now, Singleton is teaching kindergarten in Korea but plans to return stateside soon to resume his graduate work in history.
He’ll also pursue his own star trek. “I wouldn’t say I’m obsessed, but it does occupy a great deal of my thoughts,” said Singleton, a science-fiction fan who superimposed his face on a photo of Capt. James T. Kirk from “Star Trek.”
Singleton isn’t playing around, though, and he’s looked at two options — the first being $20 million.
“This includes 10 days in space with the Russian government acting as host,” he explained.
He wouldn’t be the first. You might remember Anousheh Ansari, who captured headlines around the world last fall as the first female private space explorer, according to her Web site, www.anoushehansari.com.
She earned a place in history as the fourth private explorer to visit space and the first astronaut of Iranian descent.
Singleton’s second option would be to sign on with Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Spaceship, which is due to launch in 2009 at a cost of $200,000 per flight — “the most reasonable option,” he said.
“A donation of a dime, a penny or a dollar will go further than you could ever dream possible,” Singleton urges online.
His ultimate goal is $20 million, “but $200,000 would be just fine.
At last count, he had $50.
He’s tried other avenues to raise money, but it’s proven difficult, he said.
First, he put 10 percent of his salary toward space travel each month, and he hopes other ways of making money will "come with time."
His friends, Singleton said, think it's "fantastic and a great idea." One of his biggest supporters is Jim Millaway, who lives in Tulsa.
"It's potentially groundbreaking and inspirational at the same time," Millaway said. "He is a modern-day Yuri Garigan with a little Clay Aiken."
His family has always believed in goals, dreams and doing what it takes to make it happen, Singleton said.
"Being a teacher, which is not the most well-paid of professions, this might be the only way to achieve this goal."
Millaway hopes he succeeds. "It's all dependent on the Internet gods," he said. "If people are entertained and this is circulated enough, I don't know that it is out of the question."
As for naysayers, "I just tell them that I have always been told the world is what you make it."
Should he not make it, though, all of the money he collects will be given to charity.
"And if it doesn't come true, well, then maybe I can help someone else fulfill theirs," he said.
Singleton is nonetheless hopeful.
"In the sci-fiworld, no dream is really wrong," he said. "Who knows what the future will hold?"
For more information or to donate to Singleton's cause, visit www.ericinspace.com.
01/20/2007
Tulsa World (Final Home Edition), Page D1 of Family
View in Print (PDF) Format
Eric Singleton has superimposed his face on a photo of Capt. James T. Kirk from "Star Trek."
Native Tulsan sets sights on becoming space traveler
Eric Singleton loves adventure and travel.
“Like the old American frontiersman, I love seeing what is over the next hill,” he said.
What’s beyond that hill for Singleton isn’t plain ol’ greener pastures. It’s the vast darkness of space — “the next frontier,” he said.
This Tulsa native, who currently lives in Korea, has a Web site dedicated to his dream of space travel at www.ericinspace.com. And he’s asking for your help to get there.
“I have dreamed of traveling in space my whole life,” said Singleton in a recent e-mail exchange. “Only now do we live in an age where it is possible.”
Singleton grew up in Tulsa, and graduated from Cascia Hall in 1997. After that, he pursued a degree in history from the University of Oklahoma, finishing in 2003. He also worked for the Philbrook Museum of Art, as well as serving as archeology curator at the Gilcrease Museum.
Now, Singleton is teaching kindergarten in Korea but plans to return stateside soon to resume his graduate work in history.
He’ll also pursue his own star trek. “I wouldn’t say I’m obsessed, but it does occupy a great deal of my thoughts,” said Singleton, a science-fiction fan who superimposed his face on a photo of Capt. James T. Kirk from “Star Trek.”
Singleton isn’t playing around, though, and he’s looked at two options — the first being $20 million.
“This includes 10 days in space with the Russian government acting as host,” he explained.
He wouldn’t be the first. You might remember Anousheh Ansari, who captured headlines around the world last fall as the first female private space explorer, according to her Web site, www.anoushehansari.com.
She earned a place in history as the fourth private explorer to visit space and the first astronaut of Iranian descent.
Singleton’s second option would be to sign on with Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Spaceship, which is due to launch in 2009 at a cost of $200,000 per flight — “the most reasonable option,” he said.
“A donation of a dime, a penny or a dollar will go further than you could ever dream possible,” Singleton urges online.
His ultimate goal is $20 million, “but $200,000 would be just fine.
At last count, he had $50.
He’s tried other avenues to raise money, but it’s proven difficult, he said.
First, he put 10 percent of his salary toward space travel each month, and he hopes other ways of making money will "come with time."
His friends, Singleton said, think it's "fantastic and a great idea." One of his biggest supporters is Jim Millaway, who lives in Tulsa.
"It's potentially groundbreaking and inspirational at the same time," Millaway said. "He is a modern-day Yuri Garigan with a little Clay Aiken."
His family has always believed in goals, dreams and doing what it takes to make it happen, Singleton said.
"Being a teacher, which is not the most well-paid of professions, this might be the only way to achieve this goal."
Millaway hopes he succeeds. "It's all dependent on the Internet gods," he said. "If people are entertained and this is circulated enough, I don't know that it is out of the question."
As for naysayers, "I just tell them that I have always been told the world is what you make it."
Should he not make it, though, all of the money he collects will be given to charity.
"And if it doesn't come true, well, then maybe I can help someone else fulfill theirs," he said.
Singleton is nonetheless hopeful.
"In the sci-fiworld, no dream is really wrong," he said. "Who knows what the future will hold?"
For more information or to donate to Singleton's cause, visit www.ericinspace.com.
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