Latest news with #CharlesMChafer
Time of India
a day ago
- Science
- Time of India
Planned space farewell ends in deep-sea tragedy as capsule carrying ashes of 166 crashes into Pacific Ocean
What was meant to be a peaceful final journey into space turned into a tragic ending, as a capsule carrying the ashes of 166 people crashed into the Pacific Ocean. The mission, launched by a German startup on June 23, was supposed to offer a unique farewell, sending human remains into orbit. The space capsule, named Nyx, was part of a project called Mission Possible , launched by The Exploration Company (TEC). Along with human ashes, it also carried cannabis seeds as part of a broader experiment. It successfully completed two orbits around the Earth, but things took an unexpected turn when the capsule re-entered the atmosphere and lost communication with the team. Soon after the blackout, it plunged into the Pacific Ocean, taking with it the remains of those who had hoped to rest among the stars. A 'partial success', says company In a post on LinkedIn, TEC described the outcome as a "partial success (partial failure)". They confirmed the capsule launched properly, operated normally in orbit, and even managed to re-establish communication after the blackout during re-entry. But in the final moments, the signal was lost again, just before splashdown. The company is now investigating what went wrong and has promised to share more details soon. They also issued a heartfelt apology: "We apologise to all our clients who entrusted us with their payloads... This partial success reflects both ambition and the inherent risks of innovation." Live Events No recovery possible Celestis, a Texas-based space burial company that partnered in the mission, also issued a statement. They confirmed that the capsule and ashes cannot be recovered, as they are now resting at the bottom of the ocean. Celestis CEO Charles M Chafer acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment, saying: "No technical achievement replaces the profound personal meaning this service holds for our families." Despite the setback, TEC says it is determined to try again. With the lessons learned from this incident, the team is already working towards another launch. Inputs from agencies Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Space burial ends in tragedy: Capsule with ashes of 166 people crashes into Pacific Ocean
A unique space capsule, which was carrying the ashes of 166 people, ended up at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean after orbiting around the Earth. A German startup launched the Nyx capsule on "Mission Possible", carrying the remains of 166 people who wanted to be buried in space along with cannabis seeds. A German startup launched the Nyx capsule on "Mission Possible", carrying the remains of 166 people.(The Exploration Company) However, the capsule completed two orbits after it was launched on June 23 and then plummeted to Earth, dropping into the Pacific Ocean. The Exploration Company (TEC) which created the capsule said that Mission Possible was a "partial success" "Our spacecraft Mission Possible achieved partial success (partial failure). The capsule was launched successfully, powered the payloads nominally in orbit, stabilised itself after separation from the launcher, re-entered and re-established communication after blackout," it said in a LinkedIn post. Take a look at the full post here: However, it said that when the capsule returned to Earth's orbit, it 'lost communication' with the company for 'a few minutes before splash down." The startup said that it was still investigating the "root causes" of the sudden crash and will share more information soon. It did, however, apologise to their clients who trusted them with the remains of their loved ones. "We apologize to all our clients who entrusted us with their payloads. We thank our teams for their hard work and their dedication to success. We have been pushing boundaries in record time and cost. This partial success reflects both ambition and the inherent risks of innovation. Leveraging the technical milestones achieved yesterday and the lessons we will extract from our ongoing investigation, we will then prepare to re-fly as soon as possible," it wrote. The Texas-based space burial company Celestis, which was also part of the mission, stated that they will not be able to recover or return the flight capsules or ashes aboard. "We also recognise that no technical achievement replaces the profound personal meaning this service holds for our families,' Celestis co-founder and CEO Charles M Chafer said.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Space capsule carrying ashes of 166 people meets bizarre end
A space capsule carrying the ashes of 166 people met an anticlimactic fate when it plunged into the Pacific Ocean. The Nyx capsule, launched on June 23 as part of an initiative called 'Mission Possible' by the German start-up The Exploration Company (TEC), was designed to send its passengers on a final journey into space. The capsule was intended to carry the ashes safely back to earth after the flights, fulfilling their dying wishes to finally become astronauts. But after the capsule completed two orbits around Earth 'an anomaly occurred' and the vessel was lost during its planned re-entry into the atmosphere, according to Celestis co-founder and CEO Charles M. Chafer. The mission was carried out in partnership with Celestis, a Texas-based company specializing in space burials. According to TEC, the spacecraft's launch was successful, the payload was powered as expected in orbit, and the spacecraft even re-established communication after a brief blackout during re-entry. However, moments before the capsule was scheduled to splash down and return safely to Earth, the mission hit a wall. TEC revealed that they 'lost communication' with the capsule a few minutes before its scheduled splashdown. 'We apologize to all our clients who entrusted us with their payloads,' the company, which had celebrated the capsule's previous milestones, said in a statement. TEC said that the payload - along with the remains of the deceased and several other experimental items - was lost in the Pacific Ocean. In addition to human remains, the Nyx capsule carried cannabis plant matter and seeds for a citizen science project called Martian Grow. The initiative aims to study the viability of growing cannabis on Mars, hoping to push the boundaries of space agriculture, according to Popular Mechanics. Despite the loss, Celestis offered consolation to the families of those whose loved ones were aboard the mission. 'Though we currently believe that we cannot return the flight capsules, we hope families will find some peace in knowing their loved ones were part of a historic journey, launched into space, orbited Earth, and are now resting in the vastness of the Pacific, akin to a traditional and honored sea scattering,' Chafer wrote. 'While there were many successful milestones achieved - launch, orbit, and controlled reentry - this was the first Celestis mission designed to return from orbit, and we recognize the bravery and ambition it required from all involved,' the Celestis CEO wrote. 'We also recognize that no technical achievement replaces the profound personal meaning this service holds for our families.' TEC, which had only launched one previous capsule before Nyx, acknowledged that while the mission wasn't the complete success they had hoped for, it still represented progress. TEC, which had only launched one previous capsule before Nyx, acknowledged that while the mission wasn't the complete success they had hoped for. Pictured: Celestis' customized, aerospace-grade aluminum flight capsule has been successfully integrated into the container that will be placed aboard the Nyx spacecraft for the upcoming flight Hélène Huby, Founder and CEO of TEC, expressed a mixture of gratitude and regret, saying, 'We are continuing our journey, eager to implement these learnings in our next vehicle. 'We will learn from Mission Possible and improve, together as a team. I express my profound gratitude to The Exploration Company's team members who are demonstrating outstanding solidarity, resilience, and commitment to the success of our mission.' Celestis has been in contact with the families to offer support. 'We remain committed to serving with transparency, compassion, and care,' Chafer concluded.
