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Burial in space

Sian Griffiths, Ottawa / asbNovember 2, 2013

Few people get the chance to travel into space during their lifetimes, but - for a price - they can after death. Space funerals allow the deceased to blast off from Earth and come back as a shooting star.

https://p.dw.com/p/1AA7d

What science fiction author Neil R. Jones proposed in 1931 is becoming reality: disposing of human remains in outer space. Space funerals are becoming increasingly popular and several companies are offering orbit burials, in which a small capsule containing a sample of cremation ashes from the deceased is launched into outer space with a rocket.

The spacecraft then orbits the Earth for several months and bereaved friends and family can follow the journey through the stars via a mobile app showing the spacecraft location and what the world looks like from up there. Eventually, the spacecraft reenters the Earth's atmosphere, blazing as a shooting star.

The first space funeral was launched in 1997 and shot the remains of 24 people into space above the Canary Islands. However, the ashes came back down to Earth eventually and the space burial was thus unsuccessful. Today, a successful space funeral can be arranged for around $2,000 (1,500 euros).