Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers

Last updated

Keisha Schahaff (born 1976 or 1977) is an Antiguan and Barbudan, who, along with her daughter, Anastatia Mayers (born 2004) are space tourists who are the first citizens from Antigua & Barbuda (and Caribbean) [1] [2] [3] [4] and the first mother and daughter duo to fly to space. Their Galactic 02 launch occurred on 10 August 2023. Anastatia, at 18, is the second youngest person to have gone into space using the United States definition of the boundary of space. [1] [3] [4]

Contents

Space travel

In 2021, the duo won tickets for the Galactic 02 launch, typically sold for $450,000, through a drawing held by Virgin Galactic. [1] [2] [3] The draw, which required a minimum donation of $10, [5] was held as part of a charity event raising funds for the non-profit organization Space For Humanity. [2] Schahaff received a pledge of support by tourism minister Charles Fernandez on behalf of the nation and the Ministry of Tourism and Investment. [6] The trip, launched 10 August 2023, was the company's seventh spaceflight, second commercial space flight, [3] and first private passenger launch. [7] [8] The expedition was expected to last a minimum of 90 minutes. [1] Prior to the launch, all passengers underwent a "full medical examination by a doctor approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), [...] many medical records checks," and pre-flight training. [9] When asked about the risks involved in the mission, Mayers stated, “We all need to get out of our comfort zones and try new things, to believe in ourselves." [10]

Biographies

Schahaff

Schahaff was born in 1976 or 1977. [7] [1] She is an entrepreneur and health and wellness coach, and has two daughters. [7]

Myers

Myers attended Island Academy in Bendals village, the only international school in Antigua and Barbuda. [9] As of July 2023, she is a second-year student at the University of Aberdeen, where she is studying philosophy and physics. [1] When asked about her program of study, she stated, "Philosophy and physics make an interesting combination, but it expresses both my love for science and my curiosity about how the world works." [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbuda</span> Island and dependency in Antigua and Barbuda

Barbuda is an island and dependency located in the eastern Caribbean forming part of the twin-island state of Antigua and Barbuda as an autonomous entity. Barbuda is located approximately 30 miles (48 km) north of Antigua. The sole settlements on the island are Codrington and its surrounding localities. Barbuda is a flat island with the western portion being dominated by Codrington Lagoon, and the eastern portion being dominated by the low-lying Barbuda Highlands, with salty ponds and scrubland spread throughout the island. The climate is classified as tropical marine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space tourism</span> Human space travel for recreation

Space tourism is human space travel for recreational purposes. There are several different types of space tourism, including orbital, suborbital and lunar space tourism. Tourists are motivated by the possibility of viewing Earth from space, feeling weightlessness, experiencing extremely high speed and something unusual, and contributing to science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of Antigua and Barbuda</span> Musical traditions of Antigua and Barbuda

The music of Antigua and Barbuda is largely African in character, and has only felt a limited influence from European styles due to the population of Antigua and Barbuda descending mostly from West Africans who were made slaves by Europeans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virgin Galactic</span> Space tourism company

Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. is a British-American spaceflight company founded by Richard Branson and the Virgin Group conglomerate which retains an 11.9% stake through Virgin Investments Limited. It is headquartered in California, and operates from New Mexico. The company develops commercial spacecraft and provides suborbital spaceflights to space tourists. Virgin Galactic's suborbital spacecraft are air launched from beneath a carrier airplane known as White Knight Two. Virgin Galactic's maiden spaceflight occurred in 2018 with its VSS Unity spaceship. Branson had originally hoped to see a maiden spaceflight by 2010, but the date was repeatedly delayed, primarily due to the October 2014 crash of VSS Enterprise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scaled Composites White Knight Two</span> SpaceShipTwo mother ship

The Scaled Composites Model 348 White Knight Two (WK2) is a quadjet cargo aircraft that is used to lift the SpaceShipTwo spacecraft to release altitude. It was developed by Scaled Composites from 2007 to 2010 as the first stage of Tier 1b, a two-stage to suborbital-space crewed launch system. WK2 is based on the successful mothership to SpaceShipOne, White Knight, which itself is based on Proteus.

Anastatia may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda</span> Constitutional monarchy as a system of government in Antigua and Barbuda

The monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Antigua and Barbuda. The current Antiguan and Barbudan monarch and head of state, since 8 September 2022, is King Charles III. As sovereign, he is the personal embodiment of the Crown of Antigua and Barbuda. Although the person of the sovereign is equally shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations, each country's monarchy is separate and legally distinct. As a result, the current monarch is officially titled King of Antigua and Barbuda and, in this capacity, he and other members of the Royal Family undertake public and private functions domestically and abroad as representatives of Antigua and Barbuda. However, the King is the only member of the Royal Family with any constitutional role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antigua Carnival</span> Celebration in Antigua

The Antiguan Carnival is a celebration of emancipation from slavery, held annually on the island of Antigua. It is a thirteen-day festival of colorful costumes, beauty pageants, talent shows, and music. The festival begins in late July and ends the first Tuesday in August, known as Carnival Tuesday. Both Carnival Monday and Carnival Tuesday are public holidays on the island. Antiguan Carnival replaced the Old Time Christmas Festival in 1957, with hopes of inspiring tourism in Antigua and Barbuda. Some elements of the Old Time Christmas Festival remain in the modern Carnival celebrations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commercial astronaut</span> Astronaut employed by a company instead of a government

A commercial astronaut is a person who has commanded, piloted, or served as an active crew member of a privately funded spacecraft. This is distinct from an otherwise non-government astronaut, for example Charlie Walker, who flies while representing a non-government corporation but with funding or training or both coming from government sources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Antigua and Barbuda</span> Twin island country in the Caribbean

The following outline is provided as an overview of and introduction to Antigua and Barbuda:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afro-Antiguans and Barbudans</span> Ethnic group

Afro-Antiguans and Afro-Barbudans are Antiguans and Barbudans of entirely or predominantly African ancestry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deborah-Mae Lovell</span> Antiguan and Barbudan diplomat

Dame Deborah Mae Lovell, DCN, is an Antiguan and Barbudan woman who served as Ambassador to the U.S. and the Organization of American States (OAS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squatting in Antigua and Barbuda</span>

Squatting in the island country of Antigua and Barbuda in the West Indies is the occupation of unused land or derelict buildings without the permission of the owner. Historically, native Barbudans were seen as squatters and after Hurricane Irma in 2017, Prime Minister Gaston Browne offered people he termed squatters the chance to buy their land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antigua and Barbuda–United Kingdom relations</span> Bilateral relations

Antigua and Barbuda and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) are related through a long common history spanning from 1632 for Antigua, and 1678 for the smaller sister-isle of Barbuda through until 1981 for the joint-state. Antigua was one of the oldest English settlements in the West Indies, and served as a British hub of regional administration for the surrounding Leeward Islands.

Osbert Richard Frederick is an Antiguan and Barbudan politician. He was appointed senator by Prime Minister Gaston Browne. After his appointment, he was elected the Deputy senate president in the Upper House of Parliament in Antigua and Barbuda.

Edmond Mansoor is an Antiguan and Barbudan politician and physician. He is the former senate president of the Upper House of Parliament in Antigua and Barbuda. He has also served as the Minister of State and Minister of Communication and Telecommunications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gail Christian</span> Antiguan and Barbudan politician

Gail Christian is an Antiguan and Barbudan politician and senator. She is a senator of the Upper House of Parliament in Antigua and Barbuda. She was appointed senator by Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

Republicanism in Antigua and Barbuda is a movement for the replacement of the constitutional monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda with a republican form of government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galactic 02</span> 2023 private crewed suborbital spaceflight

Galactic 02 (G02) was a crewed sub-orbital spaceflight of the SpaceShipTwo-class VSS Unity, launched on 10 August 2023. It was the second commercial spaceflight and seventh overall spaceflight for American aerospace company Virgin Galactic. The mission was the first to carry space tourists, as the previous flight, Galactic 01, carried astronauts from the Italian Air Force and the Italian National Research Council.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Walcott, Escher (2023-07-18). "80-Year-Old Man with Parkinson's Among Passengers on First Virgin Galactic Space Tourism Flight". People . Archived from the original on 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  2. 1 2 3 Strickland, Ashley (2023-07-17). "Meet the crew of Virgin Galactic's first private passenger spaceflight". CNN . Archived from the original on 2023-07-24. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Zaidi, Hiyah (2023-07-18). "Virgin Galactic announces first private astronaut mission and second commercial flight - who is on board?". National World . Archived from the original on 2023-08-05. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  4. 1 2 Robinson-Avila, Kevin (2023-07-17). "Octogenarian, mother-daughter team, headed to space". Albuquerque Journal . Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  5. ↑ Thomas, Latrishka (2021-12-04). "'On top of the world': No hint of nervousness for A&B's first space traveller". Observer. Archived from the original on 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  6. ↑ "Excitement building as Antiguan & Barbudan begins journey to space". Antigua News Room. 2021-12-08. Archived from the original on 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  7. 1 2 3 Rose, Greg (2023-07-17). "Virgin Galactic's first private astronaut mission". Virgin Galactic . Archived from the original on 2023-07-28. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  8. ↑ "Antigua & Barbuda 'Over The Moon' as Mother-Daughter Duo head to space". Observer. 2023-08-03. Archived from the original on 2023-08-05. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  9. 1 2 Emmanuel, Robert A. (2023-05-23). "Health and wellness coach Keisha Schahaff and daughter prepare as space trip draws closer". Observer. Archived from the original on 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  10. ↑ Thomas, Latrishka (2023-07-19). "Antiguan mother and daughter to blast off into space next month". Observer. Archived from the original on 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  11. ↑ "Astronaut Bio: Anastatia Mayers". Virgin Galactic . Archived from the original on 2023-08-05. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.