Physics student and mum to become first mother and daughter in space

British physics student, 18, and her mum are set to become the first mother and daughter duo in space

• Virgin Galactic’s second commercial space flight will take place on August 10 
• Anastatia Mayer will also be joined by former British Olympian Jon Goodwin 

Most physics scholars can only dream about going to space.

But for one University of Aberdeen student it is about to become a reality.

Anastatia Mayer, 18, is among three people who won a place aboard Virgin Galactic’s second commercial space flight next month through a prize draw.

The philosophy and physics student will also earn a place in history as she will be joined by her mum Keshia Schahaff to make them the first mother and daughter in space.

Former British Olympian Jon Goodwin, 80, was selected to join them for the Unity 22 flight on August 10.

Anastatia Mayer, 18, (pictured left) is among three people who won a place aboard Virgin Galactic’s second commercial space flight next month through a prize draw. She will be joined by her mum Keshia Schahaff (pictured right) to make them the first mother and daughter in space

Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity (File Photo). Former British Olympian Jon Goodwin, 80, was selected to join the mother and daughter for the Unity 22 flight on August 10

The 90-minute trip will see the group enter sub-orbital space, where they will experience weightlessness and be able to view the Earth.

The flight will raise funds for Space for Humanity, a non-profit group that seeks to send ordinary citizens into space to give them a ‘grander perspective’ on the challenges facing Earth. Miss Mayer, who hopes to become an astrobiologist [the study of the possibility of life beyond Earth] said: ‘We all need to get out of our comfort zone, try new things to believe in ourselves. It really does connect everyone.’

The student inherited her love of space from her mother, who entered the draw after seeing an advert on a Virgin flight from Antigua to London.

Mrs Schahaff, who will also make history as the first Antiguan in space, said: ‘I am just really excited. This whole journey for me is a transformation from being a really timid person who was afraid of a lot of things. I had to work on myself and I feel this is the moment where everything aligned.’

For the 46-year-old, space travel is a ‘dream’ she has harboured since childhood.

Anastatia Mayers. The 90-minute trip will see the group enter sub-orbital space, where they will experience weightlessness and be able to view the Earth

Keshia Schahaff. Mrs Schahaff will also make history as the first Antiguan in space. She said space travel is a ‘dream’ she has harboured since childhood

Former British Olympian Jon Goodwin, 80, (pictured left) was selected to join the mother and daughter for the Unity 22 flight on August 10 

She said: ‘All this started a long time ago, when I was a little child. I wanted to go to space and become an astronaut but I did not have the grades for it even though I love science.

‘I became a young mother and life went in another direction.’

Recalling how she won her place on the trip after entering the prize draw, she said: ‘It all happened when I was on board a Virgin flight from Antigua to London and the advert popped up with Richard Branson on it. I filled out this lottery and I left it alone after that.

‘A few months later I started to get emails from Virgin Galactic saying, ‘You are a finalist’ and asking me who I would bring into space if I won this.

‘I spoke to my daughter and said, ‘I don’t know who I am going to bring to space’ and she said, ‘Mum, are you kidding me, I’ll go with you.’

‘A few weeks later Richard Branson showed up at our house to announce I was the winner. That was mind-blowing. I was just so excited.’

The pair will be supported at the US launch site in New Mexico by family members.

Source: Read Full Article