Celestis has established itself as a leader in the emerging field of space-burial services since its inception in 1994. Based in Houston, Texas, this innovative company has revolutionized the way we think about memorialization by sending the DNA and other remains of loved ones, pets, and even celebrities into the vastness of outer space. Utilizing a diverse array of rockets, including the advanced Vulcan Centaur by United Launch Alliance, Celestis has successfully launched cremated remains and DNA samples of notable figures such as Nichelle Nichols, DeForest Kelley, and Gene Roddenberry, among others.
Celestis has honored the memories of several iconic figures in the entertainment industry, including James Scotty Doohan from Star Trek and visual effects pioneer Douglas Trumbull, known for his work on classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Additionally, Celestis has facilitated the symbolic space voyage of the remains of four former U.S. presidents: George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan, during last year’s deep-space Enterprise Flight.
In an exciting new development, Celestis has announced a partnership with European spacecraft manufacturer The Exploration Company (TEC). This collaboration will feature a special Celestis Memorial Spaceflight payload on TEC's upcoming Mission Possible flight. Scheduled to launch atop a Falcon 9 rocket during SpaceX's Transporter 14 rideshare mission, the launch is set for Sunday, June 22, at 5:18 p.m. EDT (2118 GMT) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The upcoming Perseverance Flight will carry over 150 flight capsules containing cremated remains and DNA samples from clients around the globe. This mission marks TEC’s second demonstrator flight prior to the anticipated inaugural mission of its Nyx Earth orbital launch vehicle, which is expected to dock with the International Space Station in 2028. Notably, this will be the first occasion that a TEC spacecraft transports customer payloads into orbit.
According to Celestis, the Perseverance spacecraft will achieve low Earth orbit and complete two to three orbits around our planet before reentering the atmosphere. The memorial capsules will ultimately splash down in the Pacific Ocean, where they will be recovered and returned to clients as treasured keepsakes. This mission will be Celestis' 12th Earth Rise flight and its 25th mission overall, solidifying its reputation as a pioneer in space memorialization.
Celestis is also set to make history with the participation of three-year-old Matteo Barth, who will become the youngest German—and the youngest European overall—to send his DNA into space. Inside TEC's Mission Possible capsule, Matteo will symbolically join his late grandfather, Dieter Barth, honoring the elder’s lifelong passion for space exploration.
As Celestis continues to push the boundaries of space memorialization, the company remains committed to providing unique experiences that honor the memories of those we cherish. With new partnerships and innovative missions, Celestis is redefining the concept of remembrance in the final frontier.
