Tag: space flight

First Private Astronaut Mission Virgin Galactic: Scottish passengers and crew

  • Historic Mission Will Fly First Olympian and First Caribbean Astronauts to Space
  • Flight Window opens today – August 10, 2023
  • Spaceflight to be Livestreamed on VirginGalactic.com

Virgin Galactic will launch its seventh spaceflight and second commercial spaceflight, ‘Galactic 02,’ today (Thursday 10th August), which will fly three private passengers to space, achieving several historical milestones and furthering the Company’s mission of broadening access to space.

Ahead of today’s flight window, one of the private passengers, Anastatia Mayers, met with Dave Mackay, Chief Pilot, at Spaceport America. Both instantly connected with their Scottish links, with Ana currently studying at the University of Aberdeen, and Dave being the first native-born Scot to visit space.

Dave Mackay joined Virgin Galactic in 2009 and is the company’s Chief Pilot. Dave became the first Scottish astronaut during Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity flight on February 22, 2019 and became a two-time astronaut as a pilot on VSS Unity’s first flight from new Mexico on May 22.

Anastatia Mayers is an 18-year-old philosophy and physics student at Aberdeen University. Driven by a passion for the sciences, Anastatia was drawn to the mix her degree offers. It was on this basis that her mother, Keisha Schahaff, elected Anastatia to accompany her on her spaceflight.

Both Antiguan-born and raised, Keisha and Anastatia are set to become the first astronauts from the Caribbean and the first mother and daughter-duo to fly to space. In a quirk of fate, Anastatia will become the second astronaut to hail from the University of Aberdeen. 

Anastatia said: “Philosophy and physics make an interesting combination, but it expresses both my love for science and my curiosity about how the world works.”

The dynamic and multinational crew highlights the role the commercial space industry can play in removing barriers that once existed to becoming an astronaut. To date, fewer than 700 people have travelled to space, with little diversity among that group. Virgin Galactic’s mission is to change that – beginning with an 800 strong Future Astronaut community that represents more than 60 different nations. 

The ‘Galactic 02’ mission will achieve several historical milestones, showcasing the power of each Virgin Galactic spaceflight to help redefine who gets to be an astronaut. VSS Unity will fly: 

  • The first astronauts from the Caribbean 
  • The first mother-daughter duo to go to space 
  • The first Olympian to go to space 
  • The second youngest person to go to space 
  • The second person with Parkinson’s to go to space 

Audiences are invited to participate virtually in spaceflight and see first-hand the extraordinary experience Virgin Galactic is creating for private astronauts.

The livestream will be available to watch on VirginGalactic.com.

British spaceflight to become reality as government provides launchpad for spaceports

Satellites and rockets could launch from UK soil in 2022, with spaceports planned for Cornwall, Wales and Scotland

Another barrier to space exploration from UK soil was lifted yesterday with spaceports expected to be in operation from next summer.

Developed with the UK Space Agency and the Civil Aviation Authority, new regulations being laid in Parliament today will mean satellites and rockets can launch from UK soil for the first time – with spaceports planned for Cornwall, Wales and Scotland.

Future satellite launches will improve our access to data and communications, and revolutionise services such as satellite navigation and earth observation – enhancing the way we live, work, travel and interact with our planet.

Space exploration has a long history of inspiring us all to consider our impact on the Earth, and access to space is essential as we tackle global environmental issues such as climate change.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “This is a pivotal moment for our spaceflight ambitions. Since the start of the spaceflight programme in 2017, we have been clear that we want to be the first country to launch into orbit from Europe.

“The laying of these regulations puts us firmly on track to see the first UK launches take place from 2022, unlocking a new era in commercial spaceflight for all 4 corners of our nation.”

The legislation, laid just 2 weeks before the G7 summit in Cornwall, will come into force this summer and will help propel the development of commercial spaceflight technologies, from traditional rockets to high-altitude balloons and spaceplanes.

In time, we will also start to see new and emerging space activity – including sub-orbital space tourism and eventually new transport systems such as hypersonic flight, which will dramatically reduce aviation travel times.

UK spaceport launches will help create new jobs and offer economic benefits to communities across the country, as well as inspiring the next generation of space scientists.

Not only will this support our thriving space sector, it will also attract companies from around the globe to come to, and benefit from, these commercial opportunities.

Science Minister Amanda Solloway said: “Continuing to grow our launch capability will help bring jobs and economic benefits across the UK. The Space Industry Regulations we’ve tabled today will create a supportive, attractive and safe environment for commercial spaceflight.

“Today marks another crucial milestone that will enable the first launches from British soil in 2022 and make UK commercial spaceflight a reality.”

Volodymyr Levykin, CEO of Edinburgh-based Skyrora said: “Today the UK moved a step closer to offering launch capabilities within the next year, signalling its intent to continue as a global power in the space economy.

“These regulations will help to unlock the huge economic opportunity that is launch in the UK and provide a number of options to get cutting-edge technology into orbit and create new commercial industries.

“Britain has a long heritage in rocket engineering, from Black Arrow 50 years ago, to the talent spread across the globe today, working in space organisations and private companies. With the steps taken today and different space ports being developed, the UK has an opportunity to bring much of that talent back home and inspire the next generation. As an Edinburgh-based company, Skyrora is proud to be helping new generations of engineers gain vital, practical experience on launch vehicles to help shape the future of commercial space.

“Our Skyrora XL three-stage rocket is on track to be ready for launch in 2022, along with our space tug – which can play a pivotal role in efforts to clear space debris and we’re proud that we’ll be ready to offer these capabilities from UK soil.”