The anticipation surrounding the first paid space tourist flight is reaching its peak as the VSS Unity spaceplane blasts off into space. Over a decade ago, Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic put tickets on sale, and hundreds of them have been sold since then. These eager buyers have paid up to $450,000 for the opportunity to experience sub-orbital travel. The crew onboard the VSS Unity consists of six members, three of whom are tourists. But who are these tourists?
Among the crew are mother and daughter duo Keisha Schahaff and Anastasia Mayers. Schahaff is a wellness coach, while her daughter is a second-year philosophy and physics student at Aberdeen University. They will be the first Caribbeans to travel into space, making history. Mayers, at just 18 years old, will also become the second youngest person to travel into space, following Oliver Daemen’s journey with the Blue Origin rocket in July 2021. Schahaff stumbled upon the opportunity through an advert that popped up while she was flying from Antigua to London. She entered the Omaze sweepstake and eventually won the entire competition. The sweepstake raised $1.7 million for the charity Space for Humanity, which aims to make space more accessible.
Jon Goodwin, a British Olympian, is another member of the crew. He competed as a slalom canoeist in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. Goodwin, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, has been dedicated to raising awareness and funds for research. He will be the first ever Olympian to venture into outer space. Goodwin has always sought out new challenges, from canoeing between the peaks of Annapurna to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. He purchased his trip to space 18 years ago for $250,000. He expressed gratitude to Virgin Galactic for allowing him to take part, as he was unsure if his diagnosis would hinder his participation.
The experienced crew guiding the three tourists includes Beth Moses, Virgin’s chief astronaut, who will be on her fourth sub-orbital trip. Moses made history as the first woman to travel on a commercial spacecraft during Galactic 01 flight. She is responsible for training Schahaff, Mayers, and Goodwin. Pilot Kelly Latimer and commander Frederick Sturckow, also known as CJ, will be in the VSS Unity cockpit. Latimer was part of Virgin Galactic’s successful satellite launch in 2021 and has previous experience as a research pilot with NASA. Sturckow has four space shuttle missions under his belt and was part of the International Space Station’s first ever shuttle flight.
Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, acknowledged the significance of this journey in increasing access to space and inspiring people globally. He referred to the astronauts as role models, highlighting the diversity and broad reach of the space industry.
This historic flight marks a milestone not only in commercial space travel but also in the dreams and aspirations of individuals from various backgrounds. The space tourism industry is making great strides in making space more accessible and opening up new possibilities for exploration and inspiration.
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