In a win for diversity in science, Keisha Schahaff and Anastasia Mayers will become the first mother and daughter duo, as well as first from the Caribbean, to travel to space.
AfroTech confirmed the news that their voyage aboard, deemed the “Galactic 02,” will be a commercial space flight, the second ever for Virgin Galactic.
Schahaff, a wellness coach, shared that her quest to explore space travel has been a lifelong dream, and her participation in this journey is proof that anyone can see the stars.
“The face that I am here, the first to travel to space from Antigua, shows that space really is becoming more accessible,” shared the mother.
Their inclusion on the space flight will be sponsored by Space For Humanity, which the women won in a draw that raised nearly $2 million for the program to bring more people of all identities to space. The nonprofit was founded in 2017 to improve equity and accessibility in everyday missions to explore beyond earth’s atmosphere.
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Virgin Galactic’s tickets to these otherworldly flights usually range from 250k to 450k, a hefty price tag that makes its unaffordable for many. However, Space For Humanity’s quest to bridge the gap for those of diverse backgrounds to fulfill a dream of space flight has come true for the duo.
Schahaff’s daughter is not only making history as a Antiguan citizen in this shared experience, but for her age group as well. The sophomore in college will become the second-youngest voyager to venture to space. Pursuing a degree in philosophy and physics at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, this trip will be well-aligned with her studies.
As Black women, their inclusion on this trip signals that once-in-a-lifetime opportunities such as this are possible for anyone who dares to soar higher.
The untraditional family vacation will be a 90-minute venture, but with speeds going as high as 2,600 miles per hour, it will surely be a blast.
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