EXCLUSIVE: Mom who travels to SPACE with 18-year-old daughter after winning $900,000 Virgin Galactic tickets reveals how they prepare for the ‘dream trip’ – as she talks about her lifelong obsession with the stars

A mother who is going to make history by flying to space Virgin Galactics first official tourist flight with her daughter has revealed how she will fulfill a lifelong dream.

Keisha Schahaff, 46, and her 18-year-old daughter Anastasia Mayers, will become the first-ever mother and daughter to travel into space after winning two coveted $900,000 seats in a prize draw.

The duo — who will also make their mark as the first astronauts from the Caribbean — will board VSS Unity at the launch site in New Mexico on Aug. 10 for a 90-minute journey into space.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Keisha says going to space has been a dream she’s had since the “early age of two” and leading up to her big day, she’s “loved every moment, processed the experience and diligently prepared for the incredible space journey ahead.”

Describing in detail how her fascination with space began, the Antiguan said, “As a two-year-old I was fascinated by the stars, staring at the night sky and dreaming of going into space.

“As I got older, my interest in space exploration only grew and I aspired to be an astronaut. However, the reality that I had no opportunities in my country or the Caribbean to pursue this dream made me feel insecure.

“Yet my passion for life and the wonders of creation remained steadfast. Everything to do with space aroused my curiosity. I devoured magazines, watched sci-fi movies and immersed myself in space-related videos.’

In an effort to fulfill her dreams, Keisha entered a raffle draw for two seats with Virgin Galactic on a Virgin flight from Antigua to London in 2021 and to her surprise, she later learned that she was a prize winner. To top it off, she even got a surprise visit from Richard Branson.

She originally planned to bring a friend, but she had just had a baby, so her daughter jumped at the chance.

As the countdown to their alien adventure begins, Keisha and Anastasia are currently participating in Virgin Galactic’s “Readiness Journey Program,” which covers everything from how spaceflight works to physical and psychological preparation.

Although Virgin Galactic has strict safety protocols and precautions in place to ensure the safety of its crew and passengers, there are still risks associated with an evolving and currently unregulated industry.

During one of Virgin Galactic’s test flights on October 31, 2014, a pilot was killed and another injured when the SpaceShipTwo spacecraft crashed in the California desert.

However, much has been done since then to prevent such an incident from happening again and the Virgin Space Ship Unity has several safety upgrades.

It ventured its first flight on June 29, but without paying customers on board.

Instead, it carried three crew members from the Italian Air Force and Italy’s National Research Council with one astronaut instructor from Virgin Galactic.

Virgin Galactic’s first flight launched shortly after the doomed OceanGate submarine expedition, which claimed the lives of five explorers, including Pakistani billionaire Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son Suleman.

While the incident raised concerns about extreme adventure tourism, Keisha told DailyMail.com that the tragic event has not made her nervous for her upcoming trip to space and she is “totally thrilled.”

The mother of two, who works as a health and wellness coach, said: ‘This dream has been ingrained in me for as long as I can remember and it feels absolutely priceless to make it come true.

“What makes it even more special is that I have the opportunity to represent my beloved country, Antigua and Barbuda, and pave the way for our country and our community as the first astronauts.

“Being able to open doors for others to follow their dream of becoming an astronaut is truly amazing and it fills my heart with pride and gratitude.

“The prospect of looking back at our beautiful planet from above and experiencing the profound “overview effect” fills me with excitement.

“I can’t wait to float among the stars and experience the weightlessness of weightlessness.”

Keisha says preparing for her space mission with Virgin Galactic alongside her daughter has been a bonding experience and they’ve grown closer over the years.

She explained, “My daughter and I have always been close, but this experience has brought us even closer. The joy of sharing this remarkable journey together has increased our excitement and gratitude.

“We constantly inspire and support each other, and I feel incredibly lucky to have her by my side. As a mother I couldn’t be prouder and happier.

“This adventure has strengthened our bond in ways I never thought possible.”

The mother-daughter duo will travel into space alongside 80-year-old Jon Goodwin from Newcastle in the UK.

The Briton will make history as the first Olympian to travel to space, having competed as a canoeist at the 1972 Munich Games.

He will also be the second person with Parkinson’s to go to space after being diagnosed with the condition in 2014.

He’s been battling for space for nearly a decade and almost gave up after getting his diagnosis, thinking Virgin Galactic wouldn’t accept him – but they didn’t.

Like Jon, Keisha and Anastasia’s family and friends will be watching them on their big day.

Keisha says her husband has been very supportive of her ever since she won the Virgin Galactic tickets and at first he thought it was all a joke.

But now he’s “super excited and proud.”

While the Antiguan hopes her journey will inspire others to chase their dreams, no matter their age, she hopes it will also encourage her daughter – who is studying physics in Aberdeen – to pursue a career in space.

She concluded, “It is even more remarkable because this opportunity aligns with her ambition to become an astrobiologist and understand how life can exist beyond Earth, allowing both of our dreams to intertwine and manifest at the same time.

“As part of the younger generation, she has the potential to make significant contributions to the field.”