(Trinidad Guardian) An historic moment for the Caribbean as a mother and daughter from Antigua and Barbuda are the first space tourists from the region to journey to space and back to earth on the same day.
Keisha Schahaff and her daughter Anastatia Mayers celestial journey began their celestial journey onboard Richard Branson’s Virgin Galatica VSS Unity rocketplane at the Spaceport America in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico on August 10.
Schahaff and Mayers are the first mother and daughter and the 6th and 7th black women to travel to space. At eighteen years of age, Mayers is also the youngest person (by two weeks) to go to space.
Speaking at a Virgin Galatica press conference after the flight, Schahaff said it was the most amazing thing she has ever done.
“Looking at earth was the most amazing,” she said.
“It was so comfortable; it was the best ride ever. I would love to do this again. I am still there right now.”
Her daughter the youngest woman to travel to space added: “I was shocked at the things you can feel. It was incredible and I am still star struck.”
The exciting journey which was live-streamed from beginning to end allowed the world to view the passengers from inside the spacecraft as it reached a maximum altitude of nearly 55 miles – nearly five miles above the 50-mile altitude NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration recognise as the “boundary” of space.
Live streamed viewing parties were held in both islands of Antigua and Barbuda as excited citizens gathered to support their countrywomen.
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Brown described the event as a very significant one for his country.
“This is certainly a major achievement, an achievement that will help to inspire great ambitions of the Antigua and Barbuda people,” he said.
“I am very proud of the resilience and courage of Keisha and her daughter and we are just very happy.”
CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Autho-rity who is at the watch party said it is a very proud moment for the country adding: “We’re excited because this is historic for us as a nation, the first mother and daughter team to go in space. They are the first from the Caribbean.”
Schahaff won two tickets worth US $450,000 each when she entered the Virgin Galactic and Omaze Sweepstakes in July 2021. She gifted one of the tickets to her daughter.
Olympian Jon Goodwin, 80, who competed in the 1972 Munich Games as a canoeist was also onboard. Goodwin has Parkinson’s and is the second person with the disease to go to space
