Meet the Pioneering Passengers: Virgin Galactic, the pioneering space tourism company, announced three astronauts for its August inaugural private mission. Keisha Schahaff and her daughter Anastatia Mayers are among them. A draw raised $1.7 million for Space for Humanity, a nonprofit that democratizes space access. Schahaff and Mayers will be the first Caribbean islanders to go extraterrestrial.
“When I was two years old, gazing at the skies, I wondered how I could reach them,” Schahaff said of her lifelong dream. As a Caribbean person, I couldn’t imagine this happening. However, being the first Antiguan to travel to space proves that space is becoming more accessible.”
Mayers, 18, is a second-year philosophy and physics student at Aberdeen University in Scotland. She wants to be the second-youngest person in space, demonstrating her incredible drive.
Jon Goodwin, an 80-year-old 1972 Munich Games canoeist, joins Schahaff and Mayers. Goodwin pursues a full life despite his 2014 Parkinson’s diagnosis. “When I received my Parkinson’s diagnosis, I made a personal commitment to live life to the fullest, unimpeded by challenges,” he says of his excitement for the space trip. My Parkinson’s space journey is magical. I hope my story inspires others facing adversity to pursue their dreams.”
Virgin Galactic early ticket holder Jon Goodwin. The company has sold 800 tickets at $250,000 to $450,000 each since the early 2000s.
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Beth Moses, Virgin Galactic’s chief astronaut instructor, joins these brave people. Moses has flown three times with Virgin Galactic. She became the first passenger on a commercial spacecraft in 2019, demonstrating her expertise and advancing space exploration.
Galactic 02 will launch on August 10. Fans and supporters worldwide can watch the launch live on Virgin Galactic’s website.
Virgin Galactic’s June 29 commercial spaceflight prompted this announcement. The Italian Air Force-funded research mission took passengers more than 50 miles above Earth to conduct experiments in weightlessness.
The VSS Unity, carried by the massive aircraft VMS Eve, began the journey. VMS Eve lifted VSS Unity like a plane. With its rocket engine firing, VSS Unity reached supersonic speeds and ascended to space before gracefully descending and landing on the runway.
Virgin Galactic is pioneering a new era of accessible and awe-inspiring cosmic experiences in commercial spaceflight. The mission’s diverse crew will inspire many to dream big and reach for the stars, demonstrating the company’s commitment to democratizing space travel.
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