The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Belgrade Lakes Man to Become Space Tourist

June 10, 2009 - BELGRADE -- Stephen LaVerdiere's childhood dream of becoming an astronaut may not have panned out, but next year he plans to be the first Maine native to catapult into space.

LaVerdiere, 59, is scheduled to travel up to 80 miles into space aboard the rocket ship, SpaceShipTwo, as part of a space tourism venture developed by Virgin Galactic. SpaceShipTwo will be launched by WhiteKnightTwo, a massive carrier craft that will leave from the Mojave desert in California.

LaVerdiere, a self-proclaimed "space nut," is paying $200,000 to take the two-and-a- half hour trip in which he will experience weightlessness, view the earth's curvature and be able to see 1,000 miles in every direction.

"No one born in the state of Maine has ever flown into outer space," LaVerdiere told about 200 children Wednesday at Mount Merici School during a presentation. "Outer space is actually defined as an altitude of 100 kilometers, or 62 miles."

Former owner of LaVerdiere Super Drug Stores, LaVerdiere was born in Waterville, raised in Winslow and now lives in the Belgrade Lakes area­. A pilot and enthusiast of everything space-related, he told the children, packed into the school's gymnasium, that they can do whatever they want to do in life if they work hard, listen to their teachers and parents and learn everything they can.

"That's why I'm here today, because I want you kids to realize that anyone from central Maine can do anything they want," he said. "...If you want to fly into space, you can."

As a child, LaVerdiere wanted to become a jet pilot and astronaut, learning everything he could about space. But as he was thinking about going to the U.S. Air Force Academy, his eyesight deteriorated. To be a jet pilot and astronaut, one had to have perfect vision, he said.

When he realized his dream was not to be, he decided to go to pharmacy school, as his family was in the pharmaceutical business. He became a pharmacist, worked his way up to company president, and became owner of the company.

"I sold to Rite Aid..." he said. "I had 72 stores in three states."

LaVerdiere is one of about 100 space tourists signed up to take the space flight next year, at a date to be determined.

LaVerdiere will travel with two pilots and five others.

BY AMY CALDER
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal 6/5/09


Lakes:
Regions: Belgrade


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News