Keisha Schahaff is set to be the first Antiguan and Barbudan woman, as well as the first Caribbean woman, to travel to space. Schahaff won two seats on a Virgin Galactic space flight set for 2022 during a sweepstakes organized by the company in partnership with fundraising platform Omaze.
“You will be carrying the whole of Antigua and Barbuda with you, and this type of recognition is priceless”, said Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism and Investment, The Hon. Charles Fernandez as he extended best wishes to the future astronaut.
Minister Fernandez presented Schahaff with a tropical bouquet as well as the support of the country and the Ministry of Tourism and Investment in assisting her on this “phenomenal” journey.
“This is a remarkable opportunity”, said the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority CEO, Colin C. James. “Since your win, you have represented Antigua and Barbuda extremely well and have made us all feel proud”.
Schahaff stated that she is looking forward to representing her country and flying the Antigua and Barbuda national flag from space.
Keisha Schahaff is a 44-year-old professional life coach from Antigua and Barbuda. Schahaff won the tickets for a Virgin Galactic space flight after entering a fundraising lottery organized by the company on the Omaze platform, which raised $1.7m in grants benefiting Space for Humanity and their Citizen Astronaut Program.
Schahaff and her daughter will be the first citizens of Antigua and Barbuda to embark on such a journey.
