By Tian DuBelko
Elysium Space, a memorial spaceflight startup, has teamed up with Seattle Spaceflight to give you an out-of-this-world memorial experience, literally.
Now, for just $2,490, you can have your loved ones’ ashes sent into sun-synchronous orbit around Earth. Around 100 people have already signed up for this memorial spaceflight, according to a prepared statement.
“We are honored to assist families in achieving their dreams, riding on one of the greatest rocket in the world,” said Thomas Civeit, founder and CEO of Elysium Space. “This historical launch provides the perfect conditions to make this memorial spaceflight an exceptionally meaningful experience for all participants.”
The cost for the memorial also includes a trip to space for family members. You’ll be able to track the spacecraft in real-time through a smartphone app. And your loved ones’ remains will orbit Earth for two years before falling back through the atmosphere as a shooting star, the statement said.
While Elysium isn’t breaking any new ground in memorial spaceflights, they are the “first dedicated satellites ever launched for this purpose.” The company is promising a more personal experience for the family members of loved ones who have passed away. Previous space memorial services largely consisted of mounting the remains to a bigger rocket, Elysium said.
Star Trek icons Gene Roddenberry (creator) and James Doohan (Scotty) are just a few famous sci-fi figures to have their cremated remains sent into space. Clyde Tombaugh, famed American astronomer credited with the discovery of Pluto, had some of his remains launched into outer space on a trajectory out of the solar system. His remains are the first sample that will fly by stars beyond our solar system.
Curtis Blake, President of Spaceflight’s launch division, said that these dedicated rideshare missions are making it easier for organizations like Elysium Space to execute their missions. “We are pleased to be able to play a role in their historical mission,” he said.
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