My new year began with a new obsession — privatized space travel. At first, it might seem awkward or unrealistic, but allow me to explain.

It all began when I was celebrating New Year’s Eve sober, thanks to a work schedule that took up the last day of 2011 and the first day of 2012.

So, I decided to have a glass of sparkling cider and watch “Another Earth”, the award winning film produced by Mike Cahil.

The film details how a tragic accident brings together a young girl and an accomplished composer; all while scientists have discovered a second “Earth.”

The planet is nearly identical to the Earth we live on and supposedly is host to the exact same life. Meaning that if I’m here on this earth, the other earth contains a duplicate of me and everyone else.

I found the idea fascinating, which led to me dreaming of space travel, unexplored planets and limitless space dimensions.

My next step was a Google search that revealed an article from Time Magazine detailing how astronomers at the NASA Ames Research Center announced that the Kepler Telescope helped them discover a brand-new planet in December of 2011.

The planet, referred to by astronomers as Kepler 22b, is bigger than Earth by 2.4 times the diameter, 14 times the volume and orbits a Sun-like star.

Mission chief scientist, Bill Borucki, states that this is Kepler’s “first habitable-zone planet.” Borucki also said that if the planet has earth-like atmosphere, “the surface temperature would be an average of 72 degrees Fahrenheit.”

This would mean water could flow freely without boiling or freezing, giving it the possibility of sustaining human life.

As fate would have it, I soon received an application notice from the New York Times app on my iPhone saying, “Booking a Flight to Space, With Travel Insurance.” I couldn’t believe it.

My jaw dropped and I felt ridiculous as my friend laughed at me. One, for having a New York Times app, and two, for dropping everything so that I could consume myself in an article on space travel.

According to the New York Times, Virgin Galactic is one of the first space tourism companies selling tickets to travel past the threshold of space this year.

Just like you would buy airplane tickets and plan your next tropical vacation with a travel agent, seats are currently being reserved — on a rocket ship that will fly above the 62-mile mark into outer space.

But a trip to space isn’t a cheap one — deposits start at $20,000. I couldn’t help but think that maybe that’s what I could have been spending this year’s tuition money on — however, a full ticket costs $200,000.

As of now, 475 people have reserved a place on this Virgin Galactic Flight, which also includes a three-day training in New Mexico before take-off.

Unless 2012 brings me a wining lottery ticket, I sadly have to accept the fact that a trip to space will not be in my near future. That being said, I still have time to dream.

Let us not forget Neil A. Armstrong’s words after arriving on the moon: “that’s one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind.” May we continue to make those steps, live long and prosper.