Can you imagine a final farewell that transcends the earthly? Well, a former engineer at NASA and Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space company, has decided to turn that idea into a tangible and, surprisingly, affordable reality. His name is Ryan Mitchell and his startup, Space Beyond, promises to take the ashes of our loved ones into space.
The inspiration came to Mitchell on a camping night, while gazing at the starry sky. He wondered how he could offer a more meaningful and transcendent goodbye. The answer was “Ashes to Space”, a program that uses small satellites, known as CubeSats, to transport a portion of the ashes into Earth orbit. Each CubeSat, about the size of a shoebox, can carry around a gram of ashes from up to 1,000 people in a single launch.
The most revolutionary thing about this proposal is its price. While similar services have existed since the 1990s with prohibitive costs, Space Beyond offers its most economical option for just 249 dollars. The secret? The use of “shared rides” on rocket launches such as SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which drastically reduces costs. In addition, the startup operates with a business model that does not seek large profits for investors, keeping prices accessible.
The ashes’ journey doesn’t end with the launch. For approximately five years, families will be able to track the satellite in its orbit around the Earth, knowing exactly when it passes over their homes. At the end of its mission, the CubeSat will re-enter the atmosphere and disintegrate in a final, symbolic flash. The first launch is scheduled for October 2027, opening a new and fascinating chapter in the way we conceive of memory and space.
