Antiguan women make history with trip to space
History was created today as two Antiguans became the first mother-daughter duo from the Caribbean to head into outer space.
Keisha Schahaff, 46, a health coach, and her daughter, Anastatia Mayers, 18, a student at Scotland's University of Aberdeen took off from Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert earlier today on Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity.
They experienced weightlessness for a few minutes as they flew about 55 miles (88 kilometres) high above their earth’s surface.
Schahaff and Mayers made their historic journey after winning a competition in November 2021.
They are joined on the journey by British Olympian Jon Goodwin, who was among the first to buy a ticket in 2005, two pilots and the Virgin Galactic’s astronaut trainer.
This is Virgin Galactic's second commercial flight into space.
The lucky ladies are experiencing the trip, which has an introductory price of $200,000, free of charge.
A large public viewing party was held in St John’s Antigua to witness the historic journey.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne encouraged young Antiguans and Barbudians to be inspired by the “trail-blazing journey” of Schahaff and Mayers.
“Antigua and Barbuda will be forever remembered among the stars,” Browne said as he noted there are no limits to what Antiguans and Barbudians can achieve.
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