Virgin Galactic tourist crew's jubilant press conference wraps up historic day

Sand and beach shells from the Caribbean launched into space

Sand from the Caribbean, photos of family members, and a university badge were just some of the items taken into space.

The passengers were only allowed to carry three items in their pockets. 18-year-old Anastatia Mayers said she carried a badge from her university in Aberdeen along with a ring and photos of close family members.

Mum Keisha took a crystal braclet given to her by her husband as well as an Israeli flag which represents his nation. And sand and a shell from the Carribbean.

And Jon Goodwin took a picture of his grandson Sebastian, four rings which belonged to his wife and a badge from a canoe club sewn onto his flight suit.

Mum and daughter urge people to 'dream big' as they become first people from Caribbean to reach space

Mum and daughter Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers, who became the first people from the Carribbean to reach space, said it's important to 'dream big' following the achievement.

"It is okay to dream big, okay to voice your dream... you gotta go beyond your limits," Keisha says.

"The universe will figure it out for you, you just take that step," she adds.

Anastatia, who became the youngest person to go to space, added: "I understand where a lot of the self-doubt comes from... but everyone's dreams are valid and there's always a possibility for the to come through."

The mum and daughter become the first people from Caribbean to reach space (Virgin Galactic /Youtube)

The Mirror asks 80-year-old Jon Goodman how space compares to competing in the Olympics

The Mirror's Christopher Bucktin asked Jon Goodman two questions at the press conference following the successful launch into space.

Scientists to launch brand new solar panels into space to solve energy crisis

Christopher asked: 'Firstly, how does this compare to competing in the Olympics?'

Jon replied: "Competing in the Olympics is obviously a fair achievement. But we didn't manage to get on the rostrum, which is the aim. The Olympic motto is, it's not the winning, it's the taking part, but that's a load of rubbish! You don't get to the Olympics unless you want to win.

Q. What message does this send to Parkinson's sufferers around the world, and the message you have for them?

Jon replied: "One of the nicest things for me was the acceptance by Virgin Glatactic because when I signed up in 2005, I didn't have Parkinson's. When I contacted them 9 nine years ago, I thought that's the end of me going into space.

"They have done various health checks and everything else over the years. They never stopped me from doing what I wanted to do. I think they need an enormous amount of credibility for that.

"I hope I inspire other people around the world with Parkinson's, it doesn't stop you from doing things that are out of the normal if you've got some illness inflicted on you. Let's hope the good comes out of that as far as other people suffering with Parkinson's.

The Mirror's Christopher Bucktin with Jon Goodwin (James Breeden)

Jon Goodwin called the trip the 'most exciting day of my life'

80-year-old Jon Goodwin said the experience was "far more dramatic than I imagined".

"The pure acceleration... was completely surreal and the re-entry was a lot more dramatic... in fact I would have said it was out of control if I didn't know anything different," he says.

"A completely surreal experience, the most impressive thing was looking at earth from space," he adds.

"It is, without a doubt, the most exciting day of my life."

The space passengers talk about their experiences (Virgin Galactic /Youtube)

Huge cheers and applause for space tourists returning back to Earth

The space tourists were met with huge cheers and applause after the historic trip. Wags were waved and tears were shed as family members of the passengers and crew awaited their return.

It was the first time a mother-daughter duo, Keisha Schahaff and Ana Mayers, headed to the edge of space after winning their tickets in a sweepstake. Also on board was 80-year-old Jon Goodwin, a former Olympic canoeist who bought his ticket for $250,000 back in 2005.

The space tourists were greeted with huge cheers and applause (AP)

Richard Branson praises 'incredible' passengers after successful launch

Sir Richard Branson has praised his 'incredible' passengers and space flight company Virgin Galactic after they pulled off a historic launch.

The billionaire, who had been in Antigua today to watch the spaceflight with the family of two of the passengers mum and daughter Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers, wrote: "Today we flew three incredible private passengers to space: Keisha Schahaff, Anastatia Mayers and Jon Goodwin.

"Congratulations to Virgin Galactic commercial astronauts 011, 012 and 013 – welcome to the club!"

Today we flew three incredible private passengers to space: Keisha Schahaff, Anastatia Mayers and Jon Goodwin. Congratulations @VirginGalactic commercial astronauts 011, 012 and 013 – welcome to the club! https://t.co/oJb9bw6ggk #Galactic02 pic.twitter.com/PVQoH9q7Js

— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) August 10, 2023

Virgin Galactic CEO hails 'historic leap forward' in commercial space tourism

Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, hailed the successful launch of the commerical flight as a "historic leap forward" for space travel.

He said in a statement: "Today Virgin Galactic took another historic leap forward by flying our first private astronaut mission and demonstrating how our spaceflights will broaden access to space.

"Jon, Keisha and Ana (the passengers) each embody our fundamental belief that space is for everyone, and we are proud that today's flight has inspired people and communities around the world.

"This is just the beginning, as we plan to continue flying monthly spaceflights while also developing our Delta Class production spaceships to scale our business."

Jon Goodwin celebrates after landing back on Earth (James Breeden)

Press conference with passengers due at 7pm UK time

Keisha Schahaff, 46, a health coach from Antigua, and her daughter, Anastatia Mayers, 18, a student at Scotland’s University of Aberdeen, and Jon Goodwin are due to speak at a press conference 7pm UK time.

The 80-year-old athlete Mr Goodwin, who competed in canoeing in the 1972 Olympics, has Parkinson’s disease and wants to be an inspiration to others.

“I hope it shows them that these obstacles can be the start rather than the end to new adventures,” he said in a statement.

Jon Goodwin, Anastatia Mayers and her mother Keisha Schahaf (AP)

Richard Branson reveals more than 800 tickets sold for next trip

Richard Branson’s company expects to begin offering monthly trips to customers on its winged space plane, joining Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the space tourism business.

The company has sold more than 800 tickets to people who want to fly seven times higher than a passenger jet.

It was Virgin Galactic’s seventh trip to space since 2018, but the first with a ticket-holder. Branson, the company’s founder, hopped on board for the first full-size crew ride in 2021. Italian military and government researchers soared in June on the first commercial flight.

(Susan Montoya Bryan/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Space tourism can become 'much more regular' after successful launch

The successful launch of the Virgin Galactic means the trips could become "much more regular", according to Malcolm McDonald, a professor of space technology at the University of Strathclyde.

Despite having safety issue concerns with some of the aircrafts, he believes these can be overcome, he told the BBC: "There is inevitably going to be an incident on board - and how do we recover from that? With new technologies we have mishaps and we have to be careful," he says. "But hopefully this is the start of a much more regular activity."

Amazing pictures show the launch of the aircraft (Virgin Galactic/AFP via Getty Im)

Passengers experience weightlessness of space

Passengers were able to unbuckle and experience zero gravity as the VSS Unity reached around 85km above the earth. Mum Keisha Schahaff, her daughter Anastatia Mayers and 80-year-old Olympian Jon Goodwin are now officially astronauts.

The passengers got to experience weightlessness in space (Virgin Galactic/AFP via Getty Im)

Virgin Atlantic 02 lands safely back on earth

The Virgin Atlatnic 02 has successfully back landed safely in New Mexico.

Passengers spent the last few minutes gliding down from space towards the Sapceport America runaway before the wheels touched down.

The Virgin Galactic has successfully landed (Sky News)

Virgin Galactic Space reaches the edge of space

The pilots and crew have reached the edge of space taking in some incredible views.

Passengers are getting stunning views (Sky News)

Passengers filmed live on board rocket ship

Cameras inside the rocket ship have captured the passengers as they fly into space. Keisha Schahaff and Ana Mayers are the first first mother-daughter to travel to the edge of space.

80-year-old Jon Goodwin, who has Parkinson's, bought his ticket for space for $250,000 back in 2005, has also joined them.

Keisha Schahaff, Ana Mayers and 80-year-old Jon Goodwin on board the rocket ship

Virgin Galactic's space tourism flight successfully launches

Amazing live pictgures of Virgin Galactic's space tourism flight have been released after succesfully taking off with an 80-year-old British man and a mum and daughter.

Virgin Galactic's first space tourism flight blasted off successfully (Sky News)

Virgin Galactic makes history by launching into space

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic has successfully blasted off into space as the first tourist flight departed New Mexico following years of delay.

Six members of crew launched into space aboard the VSS Unity spaceplane along with a British 80-year-old who bought his ticket 18 years ago and a mum and daughter pair from the Caribbean.

Thousands tuned in to watch the launch, along with the hundreds who travelled to see it in person as the flight marked Virgin Galactic’s third this year. The total flight time will be around 90 minutes.

Read more here

Sir Richard Branson watching with family of passengers

Sir Richard Branson is watching the historic Virgin Galactic with the family of passengers in Antigua.

Proud to be in Antigua and Barbuda to watch today's historic @virgingalactic spaceflight alongside astronauts Keisha and Anastatia’s family and friends. Big hugs with Keisha's mum Florence! #Galactic02 https://t.co/1313b4AxII pic.twitter.com/4cVnfltXjx

— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) August 10, 2023

Passengers arrive ahead of Virgin Galactic launch

Space tourist passengers Anastatia Mayers, Jon Goodwin and Keisha Schahaff pose for photos before boarding their Virgin Galactic flight at Spaceport America. The flight is due to take around 90 minutes

Anastatia Mayers, Jon Goodwin and Keisha Schahaff have arrived (AP)

Virgin Galactic launch set for 4pm UK time

The crew are schedlued to take-off from Spaceport America in New Mexico at 4pm UK time

Wife of astronaut Jon Goodwin has spoken of her 'pride' ahead of historic launch

The wife of astronaut Jon Goodwin has just spoken of her pride just moments ahead of the historic Virgin Galactic launch into space.

Pauline Goodwin told the Mirror that she was “absolutely fine” an hour before taking off in the New Mexico desert.

Parkinson’s sufferer Jon emerged at 7.05am local time along with fellow crew members, Aberdeen University student Anastatia Mayers, 18, and her mother Keisha Schahaff.

On the tarmac at Spaceport America Pauline spoke exclusively to the Mirror. She said: “I’m absolutely fine. Obviously emotional. It’s been a long time coming. “We are very proud.”

Of her inspirational husband’s historic flight she said: “I just hope that people who know of this (Parkinson’s) aren’t held back from something they really want to do and that if they put their minds to it they can do it.)”

Jon Goodwin will be going into space (Virgin Galactic)

What time is Virgin Galactic's space tourism launch?

Although the expected time of blast off has not been announced, it is expected to be Thursday morning.

The livestream for the launch will begin at 9am local time (4pm BST).

It will take off from Spaceport America, around 45 miles north of Las Cruces in New Mexico, US. Thousands are expected to tune in to watch the launch along with the hundreds who travel to see it in person.

Read more about it here.