Talk about a memorial that's out of this world!
In a historic and long-awaited moment, the remains of 330 individuals from all walks of life - including the likes of former US president George Washington and Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry - are set to embark on their final journey into deep space.
As reported by the New York Post, the Texas-based company Celestis Inc. is launching its inaugural Enterprise Flight - a mission that will mark the first time a commercial company releases human remains beyond the Moon.
The launch is scheduled for 2:18AM on Monday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, following an eight-month delay.
The mission involves a two-stage Vulcan Centaur rocket that will deploy 62 titanium capsules - each containing DNA or cremated remains - on the Moon. These capsules will be placed within a 6-foot-tall, 8-foot-wide device known as the Peregrine Lunar Lander, creating a "permanent memorial" on the lunar surface.
The remaining 268 capsules will continue their journey over 185 million miles into deep space, where they will "orbit the sun forever," according to Celestis CEO and Co-founder Charles Chafer.
This historic mission is the first-ever commercial deep space endeavor and is expected to pave the way for many more in the centuries to come.
Among the luminaries onboard this celestial voyage are hair samples from former US presidents George Washington, John F. Kennedy, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Additionally, partial remains of Star Trek cast members Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura), James Doohan (Scotty), and DeForest Kelley (Dr. McCoy) will journey into space. Fittingly, Gene Roddenberry, the visionary behind Star Trek, and his wife, actress Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, will also embark on this interstellar odyssey.
Chafer reminisced about Majel Barrett-Roddenberry's request to send her and her husband into deep space, fulfilling a promise he made years ago.
"We flew Gene on our very first mission in 1997 and Majel came to be a part of it, and she said to me, ‘When it’s my time, I’d like you to fly Gene and I together on a deep space mission,'", Chafer said. "And me, being 28 years old at the time and having no reason to believe we couldn’t do it, I said, ‘I would be happy to do that.'"
The launch represents not only a significant milestone for Celestis but also the fulfillment of a deeply personal commitment.
The mission will also fulfil one of the final wishes of Upper West Side-based artist Luise Kaish, who passed away in 2013. Her daughter, Melissa Kaish, revealed that her mother was captivated by space exploration and held a profound fascination for NASA. Luise's dream was for her ashes to be sent into space, and her daughter - alongside her 97-year-old father Morton Kaish - will witness the launch via online video streaming.
"I’m incredibly overwhelmed at the idea that it’s actually going to happen … I’m just really thrilled that her dream of the ultimate voyage will be fulfilled," Melissa told The Post.
While the cost of embarking on this eternal journey into deep space is just under $13,000, Celestis offers various options for those seeking celestial send-offs. Suborbital flights, which return to Earth and are given to participants' families, come at nearly $3,000, while an Earth orbit mission costs almost $5,000.
"Whether you are looking to celebrate the life of your loved one or plan your own journey, you can trust Celestis to provide a truly mind-blowing space memorial amongst the stars," the company's website states.
On Instagram, the company explained how the remains of loved ones are stored and launched, writing: "The remains or DNA sample is placed in a specially designed, individual Celestis Flight Capsule, depending upon the service you selected. The capsules are then integrated into the Celestis spacecraft, which is attached to the rocket and launched into space!"
Originally scheduled for May 4, 2023, the Enterprise Flight's delay has allowed for meticulous preparations. Celestis co-founder Charles Chafer, 70, expressed confidence that "everything looks good" for Monday's monumental launch, marking a significant milestone in the history of space exploration.
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