Title: Space Enthusiast’s Remains to Be Launched Aboard Inaugural Vulcan Centaur Rocket
Subtitle: United Launch Alliance’s Rocket to Carry 339 Individuals’ Remains and DNA Samples, Including “Star Trek” TV Series Members
Buckle up for a cosmic journey like no other as Alan Clive, a passionate space enthusiast, will have his remains onboard the inaugural launch of the Vulcan Centaur rocket on December 24. Alongside Clive, the rocket, operated by United Launch Alliance, will carry the remains and DNA samples of 338 other individuals, including some members of the iconic “Star Trek” TV series. This significant event is organized by Celestis Inc., a Texas-based company that has been offering memorial space flights since 1997.
Celestis Inc. has developed a unique method of honoring the departed by attaching capsules containing their remains to commercial space flights with excess capacity. While it may sound like a scene from science fiction, sending a loved one’s remains into space is a growing trend. However, the cost for such a celestial tribute can range up to $12,995.
The launch will include two memorial flights – Tranquility and Enterprise. The Tranquility flight will accompany a lunar lander to the moon, where 70 capsules will remain on the lunar surface. The rocket will then embark on an extraordinary journey, orbiting around the sun approximately 100 million miles away, effectively becoming humanity’s furthest outpost.
One touching story comes from Alan Clive’s son, Michael, who fulfilled his father’s lifelong dream by securing a space for his remains on the Tranquility flight. Inspired by his father’s passing, Michael switched careers from movie special effects to aerospace. He hopes to track the coordinates of the rocket and use his telescope to view his father’s final resting place.
In addition to the remains, the Enterprise flight will carry digital data, such as original music compositions, into Earth’s orbit, ensuring a lasting legacy in the vastness of space. This launch will mark Celestis’ 19th and 20th memorial flights, continuing their tradition of organizing space memorials for over 20 years.
Looking towards the future, Michael muses about the possibility of his daughters or future generations of his family visiting the moon one day, paying their respects to their grandfather’s grave. It’s a tantalizing notion that embodies the wonders and possibilities of space exploration.
As the Vulcan Centaur rocket sets off on its historic mission, it not only represents a giant leap for those embarking on their final journey but also a significant milestone in the realm of space travel and celestial memorials. The dream of leaving this world and venturing into the great unknown has become a reality for these 339 individuals, forever etching their names in the annals of human space exploration.
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