Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers
Keisha Schahaff is an Antiguan and Barbudan, who, along with her daughter, Anastatia Mayers are space tourists who are the first citizens from Antigua and Barbuda 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 and youngest woman to have gone into space using the United States definition of the boundary of space. Some sources say that Anastatia Mayers is actually the youngest person to go to space, beating Oliver Daemen.
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. The draw, which required a minimum donation of $10, was held as part of a charity event raising funds for the non-profit organization Space For Humanity.Schahaff received a pledge of support by tourism minister Charles Fernandez on behalf of the nation and the Ministry of Tourism and Investment.
The trip, launched 10 August 2023, was the company's seventh spaceflight, second commercial space flight, and first private passenger launch. The expedition was expected to last a minimum of 90 minutes. Prior to the launch, all passengers underwent a "full medical examination by a doctor approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, many medical records checks," and pre-flight training. 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." In a loving tribute to her homeland, Schahaff stated: “’What makes it even more extraordinary is that I have the chance to represent my beloved country, Antigua and Barbuda, and pave the way for our nation and community as the first astronauts.“