I’m about to be the second youngest person to have visited space, I haven’t even finished uni yet
The father of a teenage astronaut shared how she traced her family tree and has Scottish roots.
Anastatia Mayers, 18, is from the Caribbean but researched her background when she won a place at Aberdeen University.
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And she’s paying tribute to her family history by taking a saltire with her when she leaves tomorrow.
Her father Tony revealed: “There are Scottish roots in my mother’s family. Ana found out after she decided on Aberdeen and went there.
“Her spacesuit has both the Scottish flag and the Antigua flag sewn on her spacesuit, symbolizing her dual lineage.”
Anastatia’s mum Keisha Schahaff, 46, won £350,000 in gold tickets in a sweepstakes as the couple flew to the UK.
The student has just completed the second year of her philosophy and physics studies at the university.
But Tony reckons she’ll have a hard time leaving her adopted country and will likely settle there for good once she meets the requirements.
He added: “She loves Scotland and it will likely be her new home.
“She likes the cold weather as much as I do. The heat makes everything more difficult.
“I’m sure any friends she made in Scotland will be watching her go to space.”
Anastatia and her parents who separated have always loved space and her dream is to become an astrobiologist.
But she stuck with her plan of moving to Scotland to study a mystery until she got things under control.
Tony said: “It was a surprise because Ana walked the entire nine meters and was accepted before passing anything on to her mum or me.
“I know my daughter and her determination, so I accepted and embraced her decision.
“I’ve been proud of her since she was born. It was a lifetime of amazing achievements.”
Tony was unable to make the trip with his daughter to New Mexico, from where she will be flying.
But he will be watching online as she is launched into orbit and becomes the second youngest human in space as well as one half of the first mother-daughter duo.
Tony said: “I’m happy for Keisha and Anastatia. It’s a dream we’ve all had for a long time.
“I would be with them immediately if it were possible. It’s a shame there’s no way to stow away.”
Anastatia shared that she believes she only won the place on board the shuttle because she enrolled at Aberdeen Uni.
She and her mother were on their way to London to apply for a visa so she could secure her seat when she signed up for the Virgin Galactic 02 seat draw.
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