Imagine gazing up at the vast night sky, studded with stars, from a Caribbean island. Now, imagine if one of those stars was you. From the serene beaches of Antigua and Barbuda, a mother-and-daughter team has just turned that dream into reality. Keisha Schahaff & Anastasia Mayers aren’t just islanders; they’re now cosmic explorers. How did they soar from the tropics to touch the stars? Stick around, and let’s journey with them.
Our gorgeous Caribbean countries are a mix of people, ethnicities, languages, cultures, and beliefs whose diversity has little to no comparison all over the planet. Many excellent minds have been delivered to mankind by these small, tropical islands and now, the country of Antigua and Barbuda has one of the most incredible records: mother-and-daughter team Keisha Schahaff & Anastasia Mayers are the first-ever Caribbean women in space! Well known for its reef-lined beaches, lush rainforests, and exclusive resorts, the sovereign island country of Antigua and Barbuda is making history in the most unexpected way.
The Galactic 02 Mission
On August 10th, 2023, the mother-and-daughter team from Antigua and Barbuda Keisha Schahaff, aged 46, and Anastasia Mayers, aged 18, set foot on the Galactic 02 spaceflight launched from Spaceport America in New Mexico. How did they get there?
In 2021, they won tickets for the Galactic 02 launch, which is normally sold for 450,000 USD. The draw, held by Virgin Atlantic as part of a charity event raising funds for the non-profit organization Space for Humanity, only required a minimum donation of 10,00 USD.
Keisha, an entrepreneur and health and wellness coach, could not believe her luck when she was selected. In an interview released in July 2023, just a few weeks before the expedition, she said: “When I was two years old, just looking up to the skies, I thought, ‘How can I get there?’ But, being from the Caribbean, I didn’t see how something like this would be possible. The fact that I am here, the first to travel to space from Antigua, shows that space really is becoming more accessible. I know I will be changed by my experience, and I hope I will be able to share that energy and inspire the people around me—in my role as a life coach, a mother, and as an ambassador for our beautiful planet.”
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The Expedition of Records
The Galactic 02 mission flew a trio of private passengers to the edge of space, and achieved a few milestones:
- First astronauts from the Caribbean.
- First mother and daughter duo to travel to space.
- First Olympian to travel to space.
- The second youngest person to travel to space.
- The second person with Parkinson’s disease to travel to space.
Keisha and Anastatia’s British fellow Galactic 02 passenger John Goodwin, aged 80, stated: “From becoming an Olympian to canoeing between the peaks of Annapurna to winning a six-day race in the Arctic Circle, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro (and cycling back down), I’ve always enjoyed rising to new challenges.
When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2014, I was determined not to let it stand in the way of living life to the fullest. And now for me to go to space with Parkinson’s is completely magical. I hope this inspires all others facing adversity and shows them that challenges don’t have to inhibit or stop them from pursuing their dreams.”
There is a meaningful mission hidden inside the space mission
Virgin Galactic stated in a press release that “The dynamic and multi-national crew highlights the role the commercial space industry can play in removing barriers that once existed to becoming an astronaut. To date, fewer than seven hundred people have traveled to space, with little diversity among that group.
Virgin Galactic’s mission is to change that—beginning with an eight-hundred-strong future astronaut community that represents more than sixty different nations.” By flying three tourist astronauts or private passengers, the mission showcased the power of each Virgin Galactic spaceflight to help redefine who gets to be an astronaut.
Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier remarked: “This flight highlights two of Virgin Galactic’s core aspirations—increasing access to space and inspiring people around the world. Each of these astronauts is a role model and beacon of inspiration in their communities.
Watching Keisha, Anastasia, and John embark on this transformative experience helps demonstrate that space is now opening to a broader and more diverse population across the globe.”
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Who are Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers?
Born in 1977 in Antigua and Barbuda, Keisha Schahaff is a health and wellness coach with her own web page which focuses on holistic wellbeing, plant-based nutrition, and energy healing workouts. She strongly believes that reconnecting with our mind and spirit is as essential as healing our physical body. In an Instagram Live talk On October 21st, The 46-year-old mother of two dives deep into the beautiful and complex world of the mother-daughter bond, which is something she addresses from a whole new perspective after sharing such an incredible experience with her daughter.
18-year-old Anastasia Mayers is a philosophy and physics student at Aberdeen University, in the United Kingdom. Quite an interesting mix of sciences, which left no doubts when Mom had to choose who to take with her on her incredible trip to space. Interestingly, Anastasia is not the first astronaut to hail from the University of Aberdeen. In 2004, ex-alumni Brian Binnie, son of a physics professor at the same University, piloted Space Ship One to space and won the Ansari X Prize, which eventually led to the launch of Virgin Galactic.
Brian Binnie piloted Flight 11P – making its first rocket-powered flight and becoming the first privately built craft to achieve supersonic flight – on 17 December 2003, on the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first powered flight of an aircraft: quite an interesting twist of fate!
The duo received a tropical flowers bouquet and a gift bag from the Minister of Tourism, Investment and Economic Development of Antigua and Barbuda, The Honorable Charles “Max” Fernandez, who took the time to extend his congratulations to the fabulous duo in St John’s, Antigua in December 2021. He told Keisha “You will be carrying the whole of Antigua and Barbuda with you, and this type of recognition is priceless”, and offered the full support of the country in assisting the two women in this “phenomenal journey”. CEO of The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority Colin C. James, Marketing Communications Manager Maria Blackman and Sports Tourism Officer within the Ministry of Tourism Karen Joseph all joined the meeting and agreed that the pair is representing the country in an unprecedented journey that made the Caribbean country very proud and excited.
Virgin Atlantic and Galactic 02
Galactic 02 was a crewed sub-orbital spaceflight of the Space Ship Tw-class VSS Unity. It was the second commercial space flight and seventh overall spaceflight for American aerospace company Virgin Galactic. This specific and unique mission was the first to carry space tourists (people who are not working during the flight), as the previous flight, Galactic 01, carried astronauts from the Italian Air Force and the Italian National Research Council, who carried out research experiments during the flight.
The crew included Commander CJ Sturckow, on his eighth space flight, Pilot Kelly Latimer on her first space flight, Astronaut instructor Beth Moses on her fourth space flight – all three are USA nationals – and the three tourist crew members, British John Goodwin, and our two incredible ladies Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers from Antigua and Barbuda.
The flight lasted – as planned – about 90 minutes, reaching a top speed of Mach 3 – three times the speed of sound – or 2,301 miles per hour. Passengers experienced about three minutes of weightlessness at the top of the flight’s trajectory as they arched briefly into space before descending back to Earth. Prior to the launch, all passengers underwent a full medical examination by an FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) approved doctor, and no concerns were raised.
This experience has taught us a lot. Space travel, an impossible dream for most of us, is becoming more and more real, vivid, and somewhat accessible. Just a few years ago, the idea of Caribbean people or even people with disabilities flying a spacecraft would be raising quite a few eyebrows. The idea of women in space, despite many female explorers including famous Italian Air Force pilot and engineer Samantha Cristoforetti, is still seen by many with sexist doubts and concerns. The Galactic 02 mission opened the doors of space travel to a new set of people who would have never dreamt of exploring space and taking part in such an exciting adventure.
We salute Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers, who will always be remembered in the history of space travel as the first Caribbean women in space. We hope this unprecedented event will inspire new generations of Caribbean men and women, and drive them to overcome their limits and push all boundaries, for a future rich with opportunities and discoveries.
In the vast tapestry of the cosmos, stars are born, and they shine, each with a unique brilliance. From the heart of the Caribbean, Keisha and Anastasia remind us that our own potential is as limitless as the universe itself. They’ve etched their names not just in the annals of space travel, but into the very spirit of humankind, proving that dreams, no matter how distant or improbable, can be reached. Let their journey inspire you: to look beyond horizons, to chase your own stars, and to believe in the incredible power of your own dreams. Every great voyage begins with a single step, or in their case, a leap into the cosmos.
Remember, the universe isn’t just out there; it’s within each and every one of us. Continue to reach for the stars, and who knows? Maybe one day, you too might touch the sky.
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Until next time, keep looking up.”