SpaceX Launches Dog's Ashes To Space On Memorial Flight
A dog's ashes were among the remains sent into space this weekend as part of a memorial mission honouring loved ones by carrying them beyond Earth's atmosphere.
Franz, a beloved family Labrador, was among 166 small capsules launched aboard the inaugural Perseverance SpaceX Flight by Texas-based Celestis Inc. The mission lifted off Sunday around 5:30 pm from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara, California.
Franz died aged 13 in October 2020. "He was the best dog, just so soft and nice and loved hugs," said the dog's owner Harvin Moore.
The pet was more like a sibling to Mr Moore's children, Elizabeth and Quinn. "Now we can't wait to watch our good boy go galactic," he told The NY Post ahead of the launch.
The flight lasted about three hours, during which the capsules orbited Earth twice. The rocket then re-entered the atmosphere and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean somewhere between Alaska and Hawaii.
A recovery ship, stationed at sea ahead of time, tracked and retrieved the capsules before sending them to Germany for processing. Within two months, the remains will be returned to their families.
The cost to send each capsule into space was $3,500 (over Rs 3 lakh). For Franz's owner, the expense was "a lot more" than the dog's value, but entirely worth it for his family of space enthusiasts.
Mr Moore said, "The emotional power of being with a group of people who are celebrating the life of a loved one in this way ... it's amazing. It's nothing we'll ever forget. It's just pure joy."
Houston-based Celestis has a long history of sending DNA and cremated remains of people, pets, and celebrities into space using rockets like United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur.
Their missions have carried iconic figures such as "Star Trek" legends Nichelle Nichols, DeForest Kelley, Gene Roddenberry and his wife Majel Barrett Roddenberry, and James "Scotty" Doohan. They also flew Douglas Trumbull, a visual effects pioneer behind 2001: A Space Odyssey and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, along with symbolic remains of four former US presidents, George Washington, Dwight D Eisenhower, John F Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan, on last year's deep-space Enterprise Flight.
Each capsule, crafted from titanium or aluminium and measuring roughly a quarter to half an inch, contained either DNA or cremated remains. These precious capsules orbited Earth twice aboard a 23-foot-tall SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, travelling at a speed of almost 28,000 kmph in low Earth orbit.
Charles Chafer, Celestis CEO and co-founder said Saturday, "Many people whose ashes and DNA are flying are people that always wanted to go to space in their lifetime but were never able to do that. It also helps families move from feelings of grief to joy."
Also aboard the Perseverance Flight were the ashes of Wesley Dreyer, an aerospace engineer involved in investigating the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, as well as the DNA of a living three-year-old boy in Germany.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
3 hours ago
- Economic Times
To lead globally, India must not just invite R&D global excellence — it must be ready to host it
For starters, you'll have to make better offers than that In 1950, the US made a radical wager: that funding curiosity - unapologetic curiosity - through the installation of the National Science Foundation (NSF) could change the world. The payoff was immense. For every $1 of public research funding, the US economy gained between $1.50 and $3. Over 260 NSF grant recipients went on to become Nobel to 2025. The US has proposed a 56.9% cut to NSF's 2026 budget - even as last Friday, a federal judge blocked the move - eliminated over 1,400 grants worth more than $1 bn, and slashed graduate science fellowships by half. In real terms, this means 46,000 jobs lost, and a $6.1 bn hit to GDP through supply chain effects and declining R&D demand. Efficiency concerns are prompting the US to cut back on scientific research. A March 2025 Nature survey shows 75% of US-based scientists, and 79% of postgraduate and PhD students are considering leaving the country. This moment is India's opportunity. With less than 0.7% of GDP spent on R&D and 15 researchers per 1 lakh people (compared to 423 in the US and 1,307 in South Korea), India is underbuilt, but not incapable. If India reforms its institutions, funds bold research and builds real pathways for global talent, it can become not just the world's back office but also its brain. The question isn't whether top minds will leave the US, but where they'll land. China has been years ahead in recognising that talent is the new oil. Through flagship programmes like Thousand Talents Plan (TTP) and Young Thousand Talents (YTT), China has systematically built a global pipeline for high-end scientific talent. TTP offers extraordinary incentives: A one-time bonus of 1 mn renminbi ($140,000), 3-5 mn renminbi in research grants, housing subsidies, relocation allowances and access to senior roles in academia and industry. By 2017, TTP had recruited over 7,000 high-calibre professionals, including Nobel laureates and faculty from MIT, Stanford and Oxford. Sent out 3,500 offers between 2011 and 2017, targeting PhDs from the top 100 STEM universities. A January 2023 study in Science, 'Has China's Young Thousand Talents program been successful in recruiting and nurturing top-caliber scientists?', found YTT awardees averaged 2.39 publications a year and ranked in the top 15% of Chinese-origin US researchers by May, the EU launched a ₹500 mn ($576 mn) 'Choose Europe for Science' campaign aimed at attracting global scientific talent between 2025 and 2027. The initiative offers super grants with relocation bonuses and longer contracts. France has pledged ₹100 mn ($115 mn) under this framework, alongside a separate 'Choose France for Science' co-funding platform. This investment comes as the EU seeks to reverse its declining share in global research output, calling on member states to commit 3% of GDP to R&D by has instituted a range of talent- return and international collaboration programmes, including the Ramanujan Fellowship, VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research), VAIBHAV (Vaishwik Bharatiya Vaigyanik), SIRE (Science and Engineering Research Board International Research Experience) and GETin (Genome Engineering/Editing Technologies Initiative), to integrate diaspora scientists and enhance domestic R&D capabilities. However, these schemes have challenges: They are fragmented across ministries. Structurally, most programmes are fellowship-based with finite tenures, lack tenure-track conversion mechanisms and fail to offer institutional integration or strategic roles within national labs. Funding levels - typically ranging between ₹85,000 and ₹1.35 lakh a month - with modest research grants, are insufficient to attract global talent or bring Indian researchers back. Lack of state-of-the-art lab infra, especially outside IISc and IITs, undermines India's competitiveness as a research destination. Returnee scientists often face asymmetric institutional conditions, like outdated equipment, poor administrative support and rigid procurement protocols. Administrative inefficiencies are common deterrents, such as delays in grant disbursal, compliance burdens and lack of autonomy in fund utilisation. Cultural resistance within host institutions, coupled with absence of structured onboarding, inter-institutional mobility or peer networks, has often isolated returnees. Absence of a mission-oriented innovation agenda means returnees are not embedded in coherent national-level grand challenges. But India's scientific ecosystem has begun to witness a quiet revolution, with momentum accelerating. There is a concerted effort by several ministries towards bringing in reforms for the ease of doing research. Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) marks a foundational shift in how the country approaches research funding and governance. It's centralising fragmented efforts and introducing coherence across aims to become the backbone of India's R&D architecture. New funding mechanisms, like the Advanced Research Grant (ARG), are being introduced. It's designed to serve as a stable, long-term 'bread-and-butter' grant for Indian scientists. Simultaneously, critical financial reforms are underway to make research more frictionless. These include streamlining fund disbursal, easing utilisation norms and granting greater autonomy to India must seize this rare moment to launch a unified, mission-driven, talent-attraction programme targeting researchers from the world's top 100 STEM institutions. The lure of being back home must be supplemented with state-orchestrated short-term schemes are no longer sufficient. What's needed is a cross-ministerial effort aligned with national innovation priorities and backed by investment in cutting-edge lab infra. To lead globally, India must not just invite excellence - it must be ready to host it. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Second only to L&T, but controversies may weaken this infra powerhouse's growth story Looking for quick buck in unlisted shares? Better think twice! How Vedanta's Anil Agarwal bettered Warren Buffett in returns Rivers are moving more goods than before. But why aren't they making a splash yet? Stock Radar: Supreme Industries stock down by about 30%! Breakout from rounding bottom formation suggests bulls are catching up Two Trades for Today: A large-cap auto major for 6.7% gain, a mid-cap auto stock for almost 7% rise After a gap of 4 years, are HDFC, Axis, Kotak banks ready for re-rating? 5 bank stocks with upside potential of up to 35% For medium- to long-term investors with moderate risk appetite: 6 large-cap stocks with an upside potential of up to 40%
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
CM Saini urges vice-chancellors to emphasise skill devp progs to boost youth employability
Chandigarh: Nayab Singh Saini on Monday called upon the vice-chancellors of universities across the state to lay special emphasis on skill development programmes aimed at enhancing the employability of the youth. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He emphasised that universities should collaborate with industries to bridge the gap between education and employment. Each university should run at least 10% of its programmes in collaboration with industrial partners. Saini outlined the state govt's vision to establish a Model Skill College and a Model Skill School in every district of Haryana. He said these institutions will focus on providing specialised skill education to students, equipping them with practical expertise to thrive in the competitive job market. He reiterated the govt's commitment to fostering a skilled workforce that aligns with the demands of modern industries and contributes to the overall economic growth of Haryana. He also asked V-Cs to align their strategies with the key dimensions of the NEP to foster innovation and holistic development. He further urged universities to maximise their contributions towards realising the vision of Viksit Bharat-Viksit Haryana, thereby playing a pivotal role in the socio-economic progress of the state and the nation. The CM said the Haryana State Research Fund (HSRF) was established to promote research across higher education institutions in the state. With an initial allocation of Rs 20 crores, HSRF is the first-of-its-kind to encourage innovative research efforts. He emphasised the importance of quality assurance in higher education by urging all universities and their affiliated colleges to obtain NAAC accreditation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He highlighted the need for faculty development, comprehensive student guidance, and active involvement in social projects as institutional priorities. Box: Tribute to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Saini paid tribute to Bharatiya Jana Sangh's founding president, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, on his Balidan Diwas. The CM offered floral respects at Dr Mookerjee's statue and also planted a sapling to give a message of environmental conservation. Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that Dr Mookerjee's ideas, patriotism, and supreme sacrifice are still a source of inspiration for every Indian. He recalled how Dr Mookerjee stood firmly for the unity of the nation, stating, "There cannot be two Prime Ministers, two flags, or two constitutions in one country. " Due to his tireless efforts, the 'permit system' implemented in Jammu and Kashmir ended, strengthening the bond of unity. MSID:: 122028168 413 |
NDTV
6 hours ago
- NDTV
SpaceX Launches Dog's Ashes To Space On Memorial Flight
A dog's ashes were among the remains sent into space this weekend as part of a memorial mission honouring loved ones by carrying them beyond Earth's atmosphere. Franz, a beloved family Labrador, was among 166 small capsules launched aboard the inaugural Perseverance SpaceX Flight by Texas-based Celestis Inc. The mission lifted off Sunday around 5:30 pm from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara, California. Franz died aged 13 in October 2020. "He was the best dog, just so soft and nice and loved hugs," said the dog's owner Harvin Moore. The pet was more like a sibling to Mr Moore's children, Elizabeth and Quinn. "Now we can't wait to watch our good boy go galactic," he told The NY Post ahead of the launch. The flight lasted about three hours, during which the capsules orbited Earth twice. The rocket then re-entered the atmosphere and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean somewhere between Alaska and Hawaii. A recovery ship, stationed at sea ahead of time, tracked and retrieved the capsules before sending them to Germany for processing. Within two months, the remains will be returned to their families. The cost to send each capsule into space was $3,500 (over Rs 3 lakh). For Franz's owner, the expense was "a lot more" than the dog's value, but entirely worth it for his family of space enthusiasts. Mr Moore said, "The emotional power of being with a group of people who are celebrating the life of a loved one in this way ... it's amazing. It's nothing we'll ever forget. It's just pure joy." Houston-based Celestis has a long history of sending DNA and cremated remains of people, pets, and celebrities into space using rockets like United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur. Their missions have carried iconic figures such as "Star Trek" legends Nichelle Nichols, DeForest Kelley, Gene Roddenberry and his wife Majel Barrett Roddenberry, and James "Scotty" Doohan. They also flew Douglas Trumbull, a visual effects pioneer behind 2001: A Space Odyssey and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, along with symbolic remains of four former US presidents, George Washington, Dwight D Eisenhower, John F Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan, on last year's deep-space Enterprise Flight. Each capsule, crafted from titanium or aluminium and measuring roughly a quarter to half an inch, contained either DNA or cremated remains. These precious capsules orbited Earth twice aboard a 23-foot-tall SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, travelling at a speed of almost 28,000 kmph in low Earth orbit. Charles Chafer, Celestis CEO and co-founder said Saturday, "Many people whose ashes and DNA are flying are people that always wanted to go to space in their lifetime but were never able to do that. It also helps families move from feelings of grief to joy." Also aboard the Perseverance Flight were the ashes of Wesley Dreyer, an aerospace engineer involved in investigating the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, as well as the DNA of a living three-year-old boy in Germany.
