If you thought ashes scattered at sea were the ultimate send-off, think bigger. For nearly three decades, Celestis, a Houston-based company, has been offering “space burials,” giving people the chance to spend eternity among the stars—or at least orbiting them.
Founded in 1994, Celestis is the original pioneer of cosmic memorials. Their service? Launching cremated remains or DNA into space aboard rockets from companies like SpaceX and United Launch Alliance. Some capsules return to Earth. Others vaporize in the atmosphere like shooting stars. And for those seeking a permanent resting place beyond our world, Celestis even offers lunar and interplanetary missions.
Their most recent mission, Transporter-14, sent 166 memorial capsules into low-Earth orbit via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Though the parachute system failed and the Nyx spacecraft crashed into the ocean, it marked their 25th mission, continuing a legacy that began in 1997 when Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry’s remains were first launched into space.
Other iconic names launched by Celestis include Star Trek stars James Doohan (Scotty) and Nichelle Nichols (Uhura), science fiction legend Arthur C. Clarke, and even DNA from three U.S. presidents—Washington, Eisenhower, and JFK.
Prices range from $3,495 for suborbital “Earth Rise” flights to $12,995+ for lunar or deep space missions. And yes, the next mission is already accepting reservations for 2026.
As Celestis co-founder Charles Chafer puts it, this is about more than novelty—it’s a tribute to humanity’s eternal desire to explore. Whether you’re a die-hard Trekkie or just someone dreaming of a celestial farewell, Celestis is turning sci-fi into a reality—one orbit at a time.
