SpaceX to launch 150 capsules with cremated human remains to space
SpaceX is set to launch its Transporter-14 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Tuesday, marking another development in the growing field of memorial spaceflights.Among the dozens of payloads on board, the Perseverance Flight, a project by Houston-based company Celestis, will carry more than 150 capsules containing cremated human remains and DNA samples from clients around the world.advertisementThe Perseverance Flight is designed as a unique memorial experience. After reaching low Earth orbit, the capsule will complete two or three circuits around the planet before reentering the atmosphere.
The memorial capsules, protected inside the Mission Possible reentry vehicle, will then splash down in the Pacific Ocean.Recovery teams will retrieve the capsules and return them to clients as cherished keepsakes, offering families a tangible connection to their loved ones' journey through space.Targeting Sunday, June 22 for a Falcon 9 launch of the Transporter-14 mission from Space Launch Complex 4E in California. Teams are keeping an eye on weather https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK pic.twitter.com/UUJMwtwOFS— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 21, 2025This mission marks Celestis' 12th 'Earth Rise' flight and its 25th overall space mission, reflecting the company's growing role in the memorial spaceflight industry.advertisement'Celestis is pleased to offer a new type of Earth Rise mission, thanks to The Exploration Company,' said Charles Chafer, Celestis co-founder and CEO. 'Our participants' capsules will orbit the Earth and return via the Mission Possible capsule, creating a spectacular liftoff and recovery experience'.The Falcon 9 booster, B1071, will follow a southward trajectory after launch to place its rideshare payloads into Sun-synchronous orbit before landing on the 'Of Course I Still Love You' droneship in the Pacific.Among those making history on this flight is three-year-old Matteo Barth, who will become the youngest German—and the youngest European overall—to send his DNA into space, symbolically joining his late grandfather, Dieter Barth, in orbit.With this mission, SpaceX and Celestis continue to expand the possibilities for personal memorials, blending cutting-edge space technology with deeply personal human stories.Must Watch
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Time of India
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Time of India
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