Suzanne Lane said 50 years ago, she saw an advertisement in the Otago Daily Times from Pan Am Airways inviting readers to sign up for its waiting list for the moon.
The ad explained the list was the lighter side of its involvement with the US space programme as one of the primary contractors.
''I remember distinctly watching the moon landing on TV, then next thing the ad appeared in the ODT,'' Ms Lane said.
Also enclosed was a letter from Pan Am New Zealand district traffic and sales manager W. L. Rolph saying the company had every intention of pioneering commercial space travel.
''Starting date of service is not yet known,'' Mr Rolph wrote.
''Equipment and route will, probably, be subject to government approvals. Fares are not fully resolved and may be out of this world.''
In the end, Pan Am never made it into orbit, instead plunging into bankruptcy in 1991.
Ms Lane contacted the ODT after the paper's moon landing 50th anniversary coverage at the weekend.
Now 75, she still has a keen interest in space and enjoys watching the International Space Station soar across the sky from her Dunedin home, thanks to the ''Spot the Station'' email alerts from Nasa.
She wrote to Sir Richard and his spaceflight company, Virgin Galactic, this week, asking if they were aware of the list and, more importantly, whether they would be willing to take it over.
''If I am unable to make the trip at the time, could my granddaughter take my place?'' she wrote.
She has yet to hear back from the billionaire or his company but did not hesitate when asked whether she would be keen for a spin among the stars.
''Yes, whatever was involved, abso-flipping-lutely!''
