SpaceX to Launch Ashes and DNA into Orbit in Unique Memorial Flight

SpaceX is set to launch over 150 capsules containing cremated remains and DNA samples into low Earth orbit on June 23rd, in a mission that merges space exploration with personal commemoration. This launch, part of the Transporter 14 rideshare mission, is a collaboration between Celestis, a Houston-based space burial company, and The Exploration Company (TEC), a European spacecraft firm.

A conceptual rendering of the upcoming SpaceX launch.

Dubbed the "Perseverance Flight," this symbolic journey allows families worldwide to send the remains of loved ones, or even their own DNA, into space. This act serves as a memorial or a celebration of cosmic curiosity. The mission will see the capsules orbit the Earth before re-entering the atmosphere and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

Orbital Journeys: Transforming Final Farewells

Since 1994, Celestis has pioneered the concept of space burial services, providing a unique way to honor loved ones with a final voyage beyond our planet. The Perseverance Flight marks Celestis’s 25th mission and its 12th "Earth Rise" flight. This type of mission sends remains into orbit for a time, before allowing them to return to Earth. Unlike missions that send remains into deep space or to the moon, this Earth orbit mission allows for the capsules to be recovered, offering families a memento that has truly travelled through space.

From Pets to Presidents: A Diverse Passenger Manifest

Celestis has a history of flying the remains and DNA of a diverse array of individuals, including celebrities, pets, and even historical figures. Previous missions have carried symbolic remains of U.S. presidents such as George Washington and John F. Kennedy, as well as Star Trek icons like Gene Roddenberry and Nichelle Nichols. This time, the mission includes 3-year-old Matteo Barth, who will become the youngest European to send DNA into space, symbolically uniting with his late grandfather, a dedicated space enthusiast.

Mission Details: How It Works

The memorial capsules will be housed within TEC’s Mission Possible spacecraft, which will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. After achieving orbit, the spacecraft will circle the Earth two or three times before re-entry. The payload will then splash down in the Pacific Ocean, where recovery teams will retrieve it. Afterwards, the capsules are returned to the families as meaningful keepsakes that have journeyed to space.

The Appeal of Space Burials

Many people find that sending DNA or ashes into space offers a deeply personal and meaningful way to honor those who cherished science, exploration, or the vastness of the cosmos. For others, it is a way to symbolically become part of humanity's grand adventure among the stars. This act transforms remembrance into an extraordinary voyage, fulfilling lifelong dreams of touching the stars, even if only in a symbolic sense.

This mission represents TEC’s second demonstration before the debut of its Nyx Earth orbital vehicle, which is slated to dock with the ISS by 2028. For Celestis, the partnership unlocks new opportunities in accessible space memorials. As commercial spaceflight becomes more common, missions like this highlight how space has permeated human narratives and the creation of lasting legacies.