Yesterday (10 August 2023) Virgin Galactic launched its first group of commercial passengers to the edge of space and back.
The out-of-this-world flight, named Galactic 02, launched from Spaceport America in New Mexico and took 3 passengers (and two pilots) 55 miles (88.5 km) above Earth’s surface, where they experienced zero gravity as they peered out of the ship’s windows into space.
Record-breaking Galactic 02 passengers
On board the commercial spaceflight was 80-year-old Olympian Jon Goodwin, who marked records as the first Olympian to go to space, as well as the second person with Parkinson’s to go to space and the third oldest person to go to space.
Along with mother Keisha Schahaff, 46, and her 18-year-old daughter Anastatia Mayers who broke records as the first mother and daughter to go to space together, the sixth and seventh black women to go to space, and the youngest person to go to space.
ALSO SEE: Mother and daughter to embark on first space voyage together
The passengers are three of the fewer than 700 people who have gone to space, earning their titles as astronauts, having flown more than 50 miles above the surface of the Earth.
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Olympian Jon Goodwin says that he first signed up for the Virgin Galactic space flight when he learned of it in 2005, and he did not have Parkinson’s yet.
When he received his diagnosis, he thought it would be the end of his dreams to visit space. However, Virgin Galactic kept the 80-year-old’s dreams alive after putting him through various rigorous medical check-ups. Jon says:
“I’m hoping that I instill in other people around the world, as well as people with Parkinson’s, that it doesn’t stop you from doing things that are out of the normal if you’ve got some illness that’s inflicted you. I just hope that good comes out of that.”
18-year old Anastatia, who flew to space with her mom in tow, described the overwhelming feeling of witnessing Earth from a distance on board the Galactic 02. She says:
“You felt like a part of the team, a part of the ship, a part of the universe, a part of Earth. It was incredible and I am still starstruck,” she said.
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This is what astronauts dub the ‘overview effect’, the deep sense of awe and connection that Earthlings sometimes feel when viewing our world from above for the first time.
Meanwhile, back on soil, Richard Branson joined Keisha and Anastatia’s family in Antigua and Barbuda to watch the spaceflight from home grounds, shedding a tear of joy in this historical first for commercial travellers.
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Upon their return back to Earth, the passengers attended a press conference where they shared which sentimental items they brought with on the flight to remind them of home, among other details of their flight to space.
Schahaff brought a crystal bracelet her husband gave her, a necklace from her best friend, a picture of her parents and daughter along with some crystals and pink sand from Antigua and Barbuda.
Her daughter, Anastatia, brought a ring from her boyfriend, a pin from her university, and photos of the most important people in her life along with her.
Goodwin held onto a picture of his grandson, four rings from his wife, and a badge of his canoe club.
According to Virgin Galactic, monthly space flights are expected to continue into the foreseeable future.
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The company has not revealed who the next passengers will be.
You can watch footage of the live feed from the Galactic 02 flight here.
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Feature Image: Instagram / @virgingalactic
