Xplore and Celestis will host Celestis Memorial Spaceflight payloads on Xplore's planned missions to the Moon, and beyond, starting in 2021. This event marks Celestis' first Voyager Mission, called "the Enterprise Flight."
"Celestis is a pioneer of the commercial space age and a proven provider of uniquely compelling celebrations of lives well-lived with space-based memorial services for clients around the world. The Xplore team is proud to host Celestis' memorialized crew on our missions," said Lisa Rich, Co-Founder and COO of Xplore.
"Our Xcraft missions enable Celestis to fulfill the dream of spaceflight and provide a personal connection to space for individuals and families. We are honored to launch to space this very special crew represented by DNA samples or a symbolic portion of cremated remains," said Lisa Rich.
"The impactful Celestis destination funeral service provides joy, closure, comfort and inspiration to those with loved ones on board. Xplore is thrilled to facilitate the incredible moment of launch in particular, which evokes a deeper sense of connectedness for all involved."
"As humans continue to explore and inhabit the solar system, we will take our traditions, celebrations, and memorial activities with us. We are excited to work with Xplore, and to join their mission to expand scientific exploration of the solar system," said Charles M. Chafer, Co-Founder and CEO of Celestis, Inc. "Partnering with Xplore enables us to expand the memorial options we offer our families, and make possible the inaugural flight of our Voyager deep space service."
The Enterprise Flight – named in honor of mission participants James "Scotty" Doohan and Gene and Majel Barrett Roddenberry – fulfills a commitment Chafer made to Majel in 1996 to ultimately reunite the couple on a final, infinite voyage together. "We are thankful for Xplore's groundbreaking and bold new way to explore the solar system, and for their leadership which allows people across the globe to directly participate in real space missions for the benefit of all," said Chafer.
Celestis and its Memorial Spaceflight missions will be featured on the HBO special "Alternate Endings: Six New Ways to Die in America" this Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at 8pm EDT.
