Remains of 152 people are set to be blasted into orbit on board Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon Heavy after loved ones pay $5000 to place the human ashes on the rocket
- SpaceX Falcon Heavy is due to blast off from Florida on Monday night
- The highly-anticipated launch of the spacecraft will send 24 different satellites into the Earth’s orbit
- Falcon Heavy will also be carrying the remains of 152 people, whose loved ones have paid for the ashes to be sent into space through company Celestis DNA
- The business has been operating since 1994, and has helped launch the remains of a number of notable people into space, including Star Trek’s James Doohan
The remains of 152 people will be blasted into orbit next week on board Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon Heavy.
The launch is scheduled to take place late Monday night in Florida, and while space aficionados can hardly contain their excitement, it’ll be a far more emotional moment for those whose loved one’s ashes are on board.
The families of the 152 deceased have organized the unique send-off through Celestis DNA – a company that works to place human remains on board various spacecrafts.
Back in 2018, each of the families paid upwards of $5000 to have up to seven grams of ashes put onto the spacecraft.
The ashes of the deceased will be packed into metal storage capsules and placed on one of Falcon Heavy’s satellites ahead of the blast on Monday night.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon Heavy is set to launch next Monday night with the remains of 152 people on board. The reusable spacecraft has been launched on two previous occasions, and is pictured during a previous blast-off
The ashes of the deceased will be packed into metal storage capsules and placed on one of Falcon Heavy’s satellites
Each of the metal capsules has a sentimental message etched into its side in much the same way as a tombstone.
According to Business Insider, some of sayings that have been chosen include: ‘Reach for the stars!’ and ‘Space Truckin’ Forever’.
Celestis DNA has been operating since 1994, and has helped put human remains on 15 different spacecrafts.
Star Trek actor James Doohan, who died on 2005, had some of his remains sent into space with help of Celestis DNA in 2008.
Several famous astronauts and scientists have also had their ashes blasted into orbit.
But while the unique farewell was once reserved for the wealthy and famous, in recent years affordable pricing has meant that space lovers from all walks of life can now have their ashes sent into orbit.
Meanwhile, Monday night’s launch will mark the third time Falcon Heavy has been blasted into orbit.
The reusable spacecraft has had two prior missions. The first, in February 2018, saw a Tesla Roadster sent into orbit around the sun. The second mission, which occurred in April 2019, was also a success, with the communications satellite Arabsat 6A launched into orbit
SpaceX is owned by Elon Musk, who sent a Tesla Roadster into orbit on the Falcon Heavy back in 2018
Monday’s launch will take place at Kennedy Space Center in Florida (pictured)