More than 100 capsules containing cremated human remains have been found after a rocket carrying ashes for a memorial service exploded in space over the New Mexico desert.
Up Aerospace launched its suborbital rocket Monday at 12:45 p.m. ET from Spaceport America. The rocket was carrying more than a dozen student experiment payloads for NASA, as well as the cremated remains of the late NASA astronaut and Alchemist, among others, were sent by their families Off for a subtropical memorial service. About three seconds after takeoff, The missile suffered a fatal anomaly that caused it to explode.
Incredibly, the cremated ash survived the explosion and was recovered, according to the Celestes Memorial Space Service. Celestis co-founder and CEO Charles Schafer explained in a comment. Email statement. “While the missile was destroyed in flight, the care and professionalism of our launch service provider –Up Aerospace –Ensure that Celestis’ payload is not damaged and will be able to be relaunched.”
Texas based A company specialized in exhuming human remains To space, it designs its missions to ensure range good chance of recovering payloads if the rocket fails to reach space, According to Schafer.
Celestes The mission for Aurora’s flight included the cremated remains of the dead NASA astronaut Philip K. Chapman, who died in April 2021, as well as pharmacist Louise Anne Audin. The recovered payloads will fly again on the company’s next mission, Perseverance Flight, which is scheduled to take place “once UP and Spaceport America complete their investigations and any needed repairs are implemented,” Schafer said.
The rocket was also packed with 13 NASA payloads TechRise Student Challenge—A series of science and technology experiments created by students in grades 6-12. But NASA isn’t looking to recover its payload, and it is instead of promising To launch other TechRise experiences in the future.
“Each of TechRise’s student teams should be proud of their achievement in providing a launch experience and we will work to provide future opportunities for them to witness their experiences in space,” Christopher Baker, executive director of the Flight Opportunities Program in NASA’s Space Technology and Mission Directorate, said in a statement. statement.
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