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What Is a Humanist Ashes-to-Space Memorial?
Whether you envision a brief suborbital flight that returns to Earth, an orbital journey around our planet, a lasting tribute on the Moon, or an infinite mission into deep space, each experience provides a profound and dignified way to honor a life.
For those who looked to the stars with wonder, this service offers a poetic alternative to scattering ashes at sea or on land. Instead, your loved one’s story becomes part of humanity’s adventure in space.
As a standalone tribute or an unforgettable enhancement to a memorial service, Celestis memorial spaceflights transform ashes into a final journey, an eternal expression of remembrance, discovery, and legacy.
What's Included?
Launching into space is a remarkable achievement, requiring the expertise of skilled engineers. A symbolic portion of your loved one’s cremated remains or DNA is carefully placed inside a flight capsule, crafted from aerospace-grade aluminum and rigorously tested for spaceflight. Engraved with their name, the capsule is integrated aboard the Celestis spacecraft and launched to the destination of your choosing.
Your loved one’s life story and memory become a lasting part of their legacy, permanently displayed on the Celestis website. This online tribute allows family, friends, and future generations to celebrate their life, while also honoring them during the pre-launch memorial service held near the launch site.
Join us for a beautiful, non-sectarian pre-launch memorial service hosted by Celestis in the days leading up to the launch at Cape Canaveral, FL. Each participant’s family is welcome to bring up to 20 guests to this meaningful event, where families from around the world come together to share memories, honor the lives of those on board, and connect in a supportive community of remembrance. Together, we celebrate the uniqueness of each participant and the shared journey they embark on with Celestis Memorial Spaceflights.
For those unable to attend in person, Celestis offers a live webcast of the memorial service, allowing family and friends to participate from anywhere in the world. This webcast can be easily shared with extended family and friends, encouraging a global gathering of loved ones to join in honoring each participant’s memory with heartfelt remembrances and reflections.
Watch the unforgettable moment when the rocket carrying your loved one’s flight capsule lifts off into space. The live launch webcast offers real-time access to this powerful event, allowing you and your extended family and friends to witness the grandeur of liftoff from anywhere in the world. Share this special moment widely to celebrate together as the mission begins its journey into Earth orbit.
Receive a professionally edited commemorative video capturing the highlights of the memorial service and launch. This keepsake video is designed for you to share with family and friends, preserving the beautiful moments of your loved one’s space journey and providing a lasting memento.
We offer complimentary satellite tracking on our website, allowing you to see your loved one’s location as they orbit Earth in real time.
For an enhanced experience, you can also purchase our Celestis Above Satellite Tracker that provides satellite flight data and alerts you when your loved one is passing overhead, creating meaningful opportunities for remembrance.
After a successful launch, any remaining balance of cremated remains or DNA is respectfully scattered near the launch site by experienced professionals who adhere to all local regulations.
Celestis is committed to ensuring mission success. With our Mission Completion Guarantee, if the first mission attempt does not reach its intended orbit, we offer a complimentary re-flight on the same type of service. This guarantee provides peace of mind, honoring our commitment to a meaningful and successful journey for your loved one’s legacy in space. Read more on our blog: Our Guarantee
Celestis is honored to offer a Veteran’s Preference discount as a gesture of gratitude to those who have served. We proudly provide a reduced price for veterans, allowing families to commemorate their loved ones’ legacy with a meaningful journey into space.
For Celebrants & Partners
For Humanist Celebrants
Enhance your services with a legacy offering that reflects the values of meaning, science, and individual tribute. Celestis memorials are ideal for non-religious families seeking a modern, poetic farewell.
For Partners & Resellers
Join a trusted global brand delivering space burials to clients worldwide. We provide you with tools, content, and support to succeed as part of the Celestis Europe network.
Meet Graham Gilmour
“When we say goodbye to someone we love, we reach for something vast enough to honour who they were. Celestis offers that scale, a way to launch a legacy into the stars.”
— Graham Gilmour
Graham Gilmour is a professional humanist celebrant and the official Celestis representative for the UK and Europe. He works with fellow celebrants, funeral directors, and legacy partners to deliver unforgettable experiences through Celestis. With decades of storytelling experience and a passion for personal legacy, Graham offers full-service guidance, from family communication and ceremony integration to logistics and launch-day preparation.
Get In Touch
Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-arranging your memorial spaceflight allows you to secure your journey to space in advance, ensuring your final wishes are fulfilled exactly as you envision. By planning ahead, you give your loved ones peace of mind, knowing everything is taken care of when the time comes.
Planning ahead locks in today’s pricing and guarantees availability on a future mission, protecting your family from rising costs or difficult decisions. It also allows you to choose the spaceflight experience that best reflects your life and legacy, whether that’s orbiting Earth, landing on the Moon, or venturing into deep space.
No. Once fully paid, pre arranged contracts are non transferable and cannot be canceled by family members. This protects your intent and ensures your arrangements are honored exactly as you intended.
- Processing Fee: Covers account setup and is non refundable upon signing.
- Reserve Deposit (60 percent): Held in a federally regulated trust by ClearPoint Federal Trust in the beneficiary name with Celestis as payee. Funds cannot be diverted even if Celestis changes hands.
- Earned Deposit (40 percent): Recognized by Celestis upon payment and non refundable against services rendered.
Your balance can be paid in full, via installments, or deferred to an estate or trust (requiring a legally enforceable notice).
One of the most comforting parts of planning ahead is knowing that your family will have a meaningful and unforgettable experience celebrating your life.
Your loved ones will be invited to attend a beautiful pre-launch memorial service where they can gather, share memories, and honor you in a setting that reflects your love for space and exploration. On launch day, they will have the option to watch the rocket carrying your flight capsule lift off in person or via a live webcast—an awe-inspiring moment they will never forget.
They will also receive a professionally edited video of the event and tracking tools to follow your journey. This is more than a memorial—it is a celebration of your life that they will cherish forever.
Yes. We offer interest-free payment plans and flexible installment options, allowing families to pay over time or in full at their convenience.
Our launches have occurred from a range of global sites including Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (FL), Vandenberg Space Force Base (CA), Spaceport America (NM), and international locations.
30 Years of Service
Since 1994, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights has helped families honor the lives of their loved ones by realizing dreams, creating lasting legacies, and finding peace through the powerful and unique tribute of memorial spaceflights.
24
Missions Conducted
3000
Participants Honored
35
Countries Served
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