As rockets soared and hearts swelled, a cherished family dog joined the stars in a touching tribute that blurred science and sentiment.
The ashes of Franz, a 13-year-old Labrador from Texas, were sent into space this weekend. His remains travelled aboard Celestis Inc.’s first Perseverance memorial mission, which launched Sunday evening from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
Franz’s Family Watches Him Go Galactic
Franz died in October 2020, leaving behind many memories. Harvin Moore, his owner, described the dog as gentle and affectionate. “He was the best dog, just so soft and nice,” Moore said. Franz was a beloved companion to Moore’s children, Elizabeth and Quinn. “Now we can’t wait to watch our good boy go galactic,” Moore told the New York Post ahead of the launch.
The launch took place around 5:30 p.m. and lasted three hours. The rocket completed two Earth orbits before re-entering the atmosphere and splashing down between Alaska and Hawaii. A recovery vessel retrieved the capsules and is now sending them to Germany for final processing. Families will receive the capsules within two months.
The cost of sending a single titanium or aluminium capsule into orbit is around $3,500. Though the expense was high, Moore said it was worth every penny. “The emotional power of being with a group of people who are celebrating the life of a loved one in this way... it’s amazing. It’s just pure joy.”
Honouring Lives, From Pets to Presidents
The Perseverance mission carried 166 capsules, each holding either cremated remains or DNA samples. Celestis Inc., based in Houston, has long offered families a chance to send loved ones into space. The capsules, measuring half an inch or less, orbited Earth at speeds of nearly 28,000 km/h aboard a 23-foot SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Notable passengers in past missions included Star Trek legends Gene Roddenberry, Nichelle Nichols, and James Doohan. Four symbolic presidential remains—George Washington, John F. Kennedy, Dwight Eisenhower, and Ronald Reagan—also took part in last year’s Enterprise deep-space flight.
Celestis CEO Charles Chafer said the missions provide more than closure. “Many people whose ashes and DNA are flying are people that always wanted to go to space,” he explained. “It also helps families move from feelings of grief to joy.”
Also aboard were the ashes of Wesley Dreyer, an aerospace engineer who worked on the Space Shuttle Challenger investigation, and the DNA of a living three-year-old boy from Germany.
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