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Galactic 02

Galactic 02 (G02) was a crewed suborbital spaceflight conducted by Virgin Galactic on August 10, 2023, using the SpaceShipTwo-class vehicle VSS Unity, which was air-launched from the mothership VMS Eve at Spaceport America in New Mexico.^[1]^[2] This mission marked Virgin Galactic's second commercial flight and the first to transport exclusively private astronauts, reaching an apogee of approximately 88.5 kilometers (55 miles) above Earth at a top speed of Mach 3, with a flight duration of about 72 minutes from takeoff to landing.^[1]^[3] The crew consisted of three private passengers—Jon Goodwin, a 80-year-old former British Olympian and the second person with Parkinson's disease to reach space; Keisha Schahaff, a 46-year-old health and wellness coach from Antigua and Barbuda; and her 18-year-old daughter Anastatia Mayers, a university student aspiring to be an astrobiologist—accompanied by Virgin Galactic's chief astronaut instructor Beth Moses.^[4]^[1] The flight was commanded by pilot C.J. Sturckow, a former NASA astronaut with four Space Shuttle missions, and co-piloted by Kelly Latimer, a former NASA research pilot, while the mothership VMS Eve was piloted by Nicola Pecile and Mike Masucci.^[4]^[2] Galactic 02 achieved numerous historical milestones, including the first mother-daughter duo in space (Schahaff and Mayers), the first female astronauts from the Caribbean, the youngest person to reach space (Mayers at 18), the first majority-female crew on a spaceflight, and the sixth and seventh Black women in space.^[1]^[4] The mission demonstrated Virgin Galactic's progress in commercial suborbital tourism, broadening access to space for private individuals following the company's inaugural commercial flight, Galactic 01, earlier that year.^[1]^[2]

Background and Preparation

Virgin Galactic's Commercial Operations

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo program represents a pioneering effort in suborbital space tourism, utilizing the VSS Unity spaceplane, which is air-launched from the VMS Eve mothership to reach altitudes of approximately 85-90 kilometers. Developed since the early 2010s, the program evolved from Scaled Composites' SpaceShipOne, with VSS Unity completing its first powered flight in 2018 and subsequent tests validating the reusable rocket-powered system for commercial use. The VMS Eve, a twin-fuselage carrier aircraft, elevates VSS Unity to release altitude before the spaceplane's hybrid rocket engine propels it into suborbital space, enabling brief periods of weightlessness for passengers.^[5]^[6] The program's flight timeline marked a gradual transition to commercial operations, beginning with Unity 21 on December 13, 2018, the first suborbital spaceflight for VSS Unity, followed by Unity 22 on July 11, 2021, which carried founder Richard Branson and qualified pilots for FAA commercial astronaut wings. Subsequent test flights, including Unity 25 in May 2023, paved the way for revenue-generating missions, with Galactic 01 on June 29, 2023, featuring paying customers alongside trainees from the Italian Air Force. This progression established a cadence of monthly flights from Spaceport America in New Mexico, the company's primary operational base since 2020. Regulatory recognition advanced with the FAA awarding commercial astronaut wings to Unity 22 pilots, affirming the program's adherence to human spaceflight standards and enabling broader commercialization.^[7]^[8]^[9] Virgin Galactic's business model centers on suborbital tourism, offering seats on VSS Unity for approximately $450,000 per passenger, with flights providing several minutes of microgravity and views of Earth's curvature. Operations at Spaceport America facilitate this model by providing dedicated runways and facilities for the mothership and spaceplane, supporting up to six passengers per flight alongside two pilots. Galactic 02, announced on June 16, 2023, as the second commercial mission and the first featuring exclusively private astronauts, was scheduled for August 2023 to build on Galactic 01's success and accelerate the shift to fully paying customer flights. This mission underscored the program's viability, with plans for ongoing monthly operations to sustain revenue growth.^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]

Crew Selection and Training

The selection process for the private astronauts on Galactic 02 emphasized accessibility, requiring candidates to meet basic medical fitness standards, secure a ticket through purchase or contest entry, and complete an initial orientation, without necessitating prior piloting experience or scientific expertise.^[14]^[15] Private passengers Jon Goodwin and the mother-daughter duo Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers were announced as the crew on July 17, 2023.^[16] Goodwin, a British Olympian, had purchased one of the earliest tickets in 2005 for $200,000, demonstrating the program's long-term commitment to founding customers.^[17] Schahaff and Mayers earned their seats through the 2021 Omaze sweepstakes in partnership with Virgin Galactic and Space for Humanity, a contest launched in July 2021 that raised $1.7 million for the nonprofit while selecting winners from over 165,000 entries.^[18]^[19] Training for the private astronauts occurred over a multi-day retreat at Spaceport America in New Mexico, focusing on physical and procedural preparation to ensure safety and familiarity with the suborbital flight experience.^[14] The regimen, led by Chief Astronaut Instructor Beth Moses, included high-g centrifuge sessions to simulate acceleration forces, zero-gravity aircraft flights for weightlessness familiarization, emergency procedure drills, and custom flight suit fittings, all designed to build confidence without requiring advanced technical skills.^[20]^[21] This preparation highlighted Virgin Galactic's approach to democratizing space access, accommodating participants like the 80-year-old Goodwin, who underwent additional medical evaluations to confirm his suitability despite a Parkinson's diagnosis.^[22] The professional crew—pilots Commander C.J. Sturckow and Pilot Kelly Latimer, alongside Instructor Beth Moses—underwent specialized recurrent training on VSS Unity's systems following the Galactic 01 mission in June 2023, incorporating simulator sessions and vehicle-specific protocols to maintain operational readiness for commercial operations.^[4] Unlike prior flights that included company-funded researchers, Galactic 02 marked Virgin Galactic's first fully revenue-generating mission, carrying exclusively private passengers who collectively paid or won seats valued at approximately $450,000 each, underscoring the transition to a sustainable commercial spaceline.^[23]^[24]

Crew

Professional Crew

The professional crew for Galactic 02 consisted of commander CJ Sturckow, pilot Kelly Latimer, and astronaut instructor Beth Moses, all experienced aviators responsible for operating [VSS Unity](/page/VSS Unity) during the suborbital flight.^[1] These individuals managed the spacecraft's ascent, release from the carrier aircraft VMS Eve, powered flight to apogee, and controlled descent, ensuring the safety and success of the mission for the entire six-person crew.^[4] Commander CJ Sturckow, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel and former NASA astronaut, piloted VSS Unity while monitoring critical systems and overseeing the spacecraft's release from the mothership.^[1] He is a veteran of four Space Shuttle missions—serving as pilot on STS-88 (1998) and STS-105 (2001), and as commander on STS-117 (2007) and STS-128 (2009)—accumulating over 1,200 hours in space prior to joining Virgin Galactic in 2013.^[25] Galactic 02 marked Sturckow's third flight aboard VSS Unity and his seventh spaceflight overall, highlighting his extensive expertise in high-altitude and orbital operations.^[2] Pilot Kelly Latimer, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and the first female test pilot at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, handled the transition handover from the carrier aircraft pilots and managed descent controls during reentry and landing.^[26] With over 7,000 flight hours in aircraft including the F-16, C-17, and T-38, Latimer joined Virgin Galactic in 2015 and had previously piloted VMS Eve on numerous missions.^[27] Galactic 02 was her first spaceflight, during which she contributed to a crew that included a majority of women, advancing diversity in commercial space operations.^[1] Astronaut instructor Beth Moses, Virgin Galactic's chief astronaut instructor and interiors program manager, focused on in-flight passenger training and cabin management during the weightless phase at apogee.^[28] A Purdue University aerospace engineering alumna with prior experience in skydiving and aerobatics, Moses became the first woman to fly as a commercial astronaut on VSS Unity's VF-01 mission in 2019.^[29] By Galactic 02, she had completed three prior Unity spaceflights, earning her role in guiding passengers through zero-gravity activities and ensuring cabin safety protocols.^[30] All three professional crew members hold FAA Commercial Astronaut Wings, awarded for flights exceeding 50 miles (80 km) in altitude, with Sturckow and Moses receiving theirs on earlier Unity missions and Latimer qualifying on Galactic 02.^[31] The team's dynamics emphasized seamless coordination, particularly the handoff from VMS Eve pilots Nicola Pecile and Mike Masucci, who carried Unity to release altitude before Sturckow and Latimer assumed full control for the rocket-powered ascent.^[4] This structured transition underscored Virgin Galactic's operational protocol for air-launched suborbital flights, prioritizing precision and crew synchronization.^[1]

Private Astronauts

The private astronauts on Galactic 02 represented a diverse group of civilians, spanning generations and backgrounds, who flew as paying or promotional passengers on Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity suborbital vehicle. This mission marked the company's first fully commercial flight dedicated to non-professional participants, highlighting accessibility to space for adventurers, philanthropists, and advocates from varied regions. The trio included individuals selected through early purchases and charitable promotions, underscoring Virgin Galactic's efforts to broaden space travel beyond elite professionals.^[21] Jon Goodwin, an 80-year-old British adventurer and businessman, brought a message of resilience to the flight as the oldest participant and the second person with Parkinson's disease to reach space. A former competitive canoeist who represented Great Britain at the 1972 Munich Olympics, Goodwin purchased one of Virgin Galactic's inaugural tickets in 2005 for approximately $200,000–$250,000 as part of the company's early reservation program, which offered seats at a discounted rate compared to later prices of up to $450,000. Diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2014, he pursued the journey to demonstrate that physical challenges and age need not limit ambitious goals, aiming to inspire the disability community and others facing health obstacles. In pre-flight media interviews, Goodwin expressed his determination, stating, "When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2014, I was determined not to let it stand in the way of living life to the fullest," while undergoing specialized training at Spaceport America that included simulations and physical conditioning tailored to his condition.^[32]^[33]^[4] Keisha Schahaff, a 46-year-old health and wellness coach and entrepreneur from Antigua and Barbuda, became the first Caribbean woman to reach space, motivated by a desire to promote STEM education and opportunity for youth in her region. She secured her seat for free through a sweepstakes organized by the nonprofit Space for Humanity in partnership with Omaze, which raised $1.7 million for global access to space experiences; standard ticket prices for such flights ranged from $250,000 to $450,000, but promotional wins like hers waived costs. As a mother and Buddhist practitioner, Schahaff viewed the flight as a platform to foster humility and interconnectedness, sharing in interviews her goal to show Caribbean children that space is attainable regardless of geography. Her pre-flight preparations involved intensive training sessions, including centrifuge simulations and team-building exercises, where she focused on personal wellness practices to prepare mentally and physically.^[32]^[4]^[34] Accompanying Schahaff was her 18-year-old daughter, Anastatia Mayers, a philosophy and physics student at the University of Aberdeen aspiring to a career in astrobiology, who at the time became the youngest woman to reach space. Mayers also won her complimentary seat through the same Space for Humanity sweepstakes, forming the first mother-daughter duo in space and emphasizing generational inspiration. Her motivations centered on environmental advocacy, particularly using the orbital perspective to highlight Earth's fragility and promote sustainable practices; she aimed to leverage the experience to encourage young people in STEM fields, especially from underrepresented Caribbean communities. Like her mother, Mayers participated in pre-flight media engagements and training protocols at Spaceport America, where she articulated personal goals of bridging science and philosophy to address global challenges.^[32]^[4]^[35]

Mission Execution

Launch and Ascent

The Galactic 02 mission launched from Spaceport America in New Mexico on August 10, 2023, at 8:30 AM MDT (14:30 UTC), utilizing Runway 34 under clear weather conditions with no postponements following the success of the preceding Galactic 01 flight.^[36]^[37] The carrier aircraft VMS Eve, commanded by Nicola Pecile and piloted by Mike Masucci, took off with VSS Unity mated beneath its fuselage and began a gradual climb lasting approximately 45 minutes, reaching a release altitude of 44,300 feet (13,500 meters).^[4]^[36] During this phase, the six passengers and crew experienced a steady ascent with minimal turbulence, allowing preparation for the subsequent powered flight.^[36] At the designated altitude, VMS Eve executed a clean release of VSS Unity, which was then commanded by CJ Sturckow and piloted by Kelly Latimer.^[4] Approximately two seconds after separation, the hybrid rocket motor ignited, providing thrust for a 60-second burn that accelerated the spacecraft to Mach 3.^[36] This powered ascent followed a precisely controlled trajectory, with G-forces peaking at around 3-4g as the vehicle climbed steeply toward space.^[38] The boost phase propelled VSS Unity to an apogee of approximately 88.5 km (55 miles), crossing the Kármán line and marking the transition to the mission's microgravity segment.^[36] Throughout the ascent, onboard systems monitored performance in real time, ensuring nominal operations under the favorable atmospheric conditions.^[37]

Apogee and Descent

During the Galactic 02 mission, VSS Unity reached its apogee of 88.5 kilometers (55 miles) above Earth's surface, marking the peak of the suborbital trajectory and providing the crew with stunning views of the planet's curvature and the blackness of space.^[1]^[39] At this altitude, the spacecraft entered a period of microgravity lasting approximately 3 to 4 minutes, during which the six crew members unstrapped from their seats and floated freely within the cabin, allowing them to experience weightlessness and conduct brief personal activities.^[39]^[40] Astronaut instructor Beth Moses guided the private passengers through the procedures, ensuring safe movement and re-seating as the descent phase approached, while passengers like Jon Goodwin shared inspirational messages about overcoming personal challenges, such as his Parkinson's disease, to inspire others on the ground.^[15]^[41] The free-flight portion of the mission, from release by the carrier aircraft to landing, lasted 15 minutes and 38 seconds, with all in-flight systems performing nominally and no anomalies reported.^[42] Following apogee, the pilots initiated re-entry by deploying the spacecraft's unique feathering system, which rotated the tail booms upward to increase drag and provide stability during atmospheric deceleration, transforming VSS Unity into a high-drag configuration for a controlled glide.^[43] This passive re-entry method slowed the vehicle from hypersonic speeds to subsonic velocities while distributing frictional heating across the underside, culminating in a smooth unpowered glide back to Earth. The spacecraft touched down successfully at 15:32:48 UTC on Runway 34 at Spaceport America in New Mexico, completing a textbook landing under clear skies.^[44]

Significance

Historical Milestones

Galactic 02, launched on August 10, 2023, marked Virgin Galactic's first fully private sub-orbital spaceflight, featuring no government or research payloads and all six seats occupied by revenue-paying passengers or crew. This mission represented a pivotal shift toward commercial space tourism, building directly on the foundation of Galactic 01, which had included paying research payloads but retained elements of trainee involvement in its operational model.^[1]^[45] The flight achieved numerous diversity milestones, including the first majority-female crew in spaceflight history with four women among the six members. It also featured the first mother-daughter duo to travel to space, consisting of Keisha Schahaff and her daughter Anastatia Mayers, who became the first female astronauts from the Caribbean and the sixth and seventh Black women to reach space, respectively. Additionally, Jon Goodwin, an 80-year-old former Olympic canoeist from the 1984 Games, became the first Olympian to fly on a commercial sub-orbital mission and the second person with Parkinson's disease to venture into space.^[1]^[45]^[23] In terms of age extremes, Galactic 02 uniquely combined the third-oldest space traveler ever, Jon Goodwin at 80 years old, with the second-youngest at 18-year-old Anastatia Mayers, highlighting the broadening accessibility of sub-orbital flights across demographics. This progression followed key FAA approvals in 2023 that certified Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo vehicle for routine commercial operations, solidifying the company's transition into a dedicated tourism provider.^[1]^[15]^[23]

Cultural and Scientific Impact

The Galactic 02 mission significantly advanced cultural perceptions of space travel by highlighting diversity and inclusivity, featuring the first Caribbean women in space—Keisha Schahaff and her daughter Anastatia Mayers—as well as the first mother-daughter duo to reach suborbital space.^[21] Jon Goodwin, an 80-year-old former Olympian living with Parkinson's disease, became the second person with the condition to fly to space, underscoring accessibility for individuals with disabilities and promoting Virgin Galactic's vision of democratizing space exploration for a broader, global audience.^[46] In post-flight interviews, Anastatia Mayers emphasized the mission's empowering impact on underrepresented youth, particularly in STEM fields, stating that her experience aimed to inspire young people from similar backgrounds to pursue scientific careers.^[47] The mission's livestream, broadcast on platforms including YouTube and Virgin Galactic's website, drew over 150,000 viewers, fostering widespread public engagement and inspiration among global audiences eager to witness private space tourism's evolution.^[48] Extensive media coverage from outlets such as BBC and CNN amplified these themes, with reports focusing on the historic crew composition and personal stories of perseverance during pre- and post-flight press conferences.^[46] ^[32] Scientifically, Galactic 02 offered limited but notable contributions to human factors research in suborbital flight, primarily through passenger-conducted observations and basic biometric monitoring during microgravity, which provided insights into physiological responses for diverse demographics, including older adults and those with neurological conditions.^[33] Unlike research-oriented missions, it carried no major payloads, prioritizing outreach and experiential data over extensive experimentation, though it aligned with Virgin Galactic's broader program of collecting human-tended data on suborbital environments.^[49] By 2025, Galactic 02 had contributed to Virgin Galactic's completion of seven commercial flights prior to the mid-2024 operational pause, during which the company shifted resources to develop the Delta-class fleet for higher-frequency missions starting in 2026.^[50] This pause, announced in late 2023, enabled upgrades aimed at enhancing reliability and capacity, building on the inclusivity lessons from earlier flights like Galactic 02 to support more accessible future operations.^[51]

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