Transporter-14 Mission: SpaceX To Launch Capsules Of DNA, Human Remains Into Space
The samples will be onboard the Perseverance Flight, which is a project by Celestis, a Houston-based company, that offers a unique way to honour loved ones. The Perseverance Flight will carry more than 150 capsules with samples.
The company said that after reaching space, the capsules will return to Earth aboard their recovery vehicle. The memorial capsules will land safely in the Pacific Ocean, where they will be recovered and returned to the family as a "lasting tribute" to their loved one's journey among the stars.
The flight will travel at 17,000 miles per hour and achieve Low Earth Orbit after its launch from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. It will complete two to three full orbits around Earth before gently re-entering the atmosphere.
The development highlights the trend of space burial, which has happened in the past. Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek, was the first person to have his remains buried in space in 1992. Eugene Merle Shoemaker, a renowned astronaut, was the first person to have his remains buried on the Moon. Timothy Leary, a psychologist and philosopher, also had his remains launched into space.
In an X post, SpaceX updated that the launch date was changed from Sunday to Monday due to unfavourable weather.
Due to unfavorable weather, now targeting Monday, June 23 for launch of the Transporter-14 mission from California → https://t.co/dZHlwDDeMS
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 22, 2025
Celestis announced that it has entered into a new launch service in collaboration with The Exploration Company (TEC) - a European spacecraft manufacturer.
"Celestis is pleased to offer a new type of Earth Rise mission, thanks to The Exploration Company," Charles Chafer, the company's co-founder and CEO, said in a statement. "Our participants' capsules will orbit the Earth and return via the Mission Possible capsule, creating a spectacular liftoff and recovery experience."
What is space burial, and what are the common methods to do it?
The space burial is a unique way to honour the loved ones by launching cremated remains into space.
Earth Orbit: Remains are launched into orbit around the Earth, where they stay for some time before burning up upon re-entry.
Moon Burial: Remains are taken to the lunar surface, providing a lasting tribute.
Deep Space: Remains are launched into deep space, travelling beyond the solar system.
Suborbital Flights: Short flights that cross the boundary of space without reaching orbital velocity, often returning to Earth.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
10 hours ago
- Economic Times
Blaming 'slow metabolism' for weight gain? Top doctor reveals muscle mass secret to reignite your body's fat-burning engine
iStock Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj challenges the notion of slow metabolism as the primary cause of weight gain, highlighting muscle loss as a more significant factor. After 30, muscle mass declines, reducing calorie burn. The Mayo Clinic supports this, stating muscle mass influences metabolic rate. (Image: iStock) For decades, 'slow metabolism' has been the go-to scapegoat for weight gain and failed diet attempts. From late-night infomercials to trendy wellness podcasts, fixing metabolism has been sold as the ultimate solution to slimming down. But is your metabolism truly the villain here? Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, a US-based interventional cardiologist and certified functional medicine practitioner, is calling for a reality check. In a recent Instagram post that's gaining attention, he challenges the widely held belief that sluggish metabolism is the root cause of weight gain—and suggests we may be overlooking a much more fundamental issue: muscle loss. 'Muscle is your most metabolically active tissue,' Dr. Bhojraj wrote in the post. 'No muscle = no metabolic engine.' His claim is backed by compelling science. After the age of 30, we naturally lose 3–8% of muscle mass each decade, and that drop has serious consequences for how many calories we burn—even at rest. This muscle decline, combined with sedentary lifestyles and poor protein timing, can be a more significant factor in stubborn weight gain than metabolism itself. The doctor's blunt conclusion: 'We've blamed a slow metabolism for decades. But it's time we talked about muscle.' Supporting Dr. Bhojraj's assertion is a report by the Mayo Clinic, which confirms that basal metabolic rate (the energy your body uses at rest) is heavily influenced by body composition—particularly muscle mass. In other words, the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn even when you're not determinants of metabolic rate include: Body size and muscle mass – Larger bodies and more muscle mean higher calorie burn. Sex – Men usually have more muscle and less fat than women, resulting in faster metabolism. Age – Aging is linked to muscle loss, which slows down metabolism. Additionally, the Mayo Clinic states that weight gain usually stems from an imbalance between calories consumed and burned—not from inherently slow metabolism. Only rare medical conditions like hypothyroidism or Cushing syndrome significantly affect metabolic Bhojraj isn't alone in linking muscle loss with sluggish calorie burn. The Mayo Clinic explains that a drop in muscle mass naturally reduces your basal metabolic rate, meaning your body needs fewer calories than it once did. Yet, many people continue eating as though their bodies haven't changed—leading to gradual weight gain. And it's not just about building muscle at the gym. Everyday movement plays a huge role, too. Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT)—which includes walking around the house, fidgeting, or doing chores—can account for up to 800 calories burned per Bhojraj's prescription is simple yet powerful: Prioritize muscle. That means engaging in regular strength training and ensuring your diet includes enough protein, especially after age Mayo Clinic echoes this advice, recommending: Strength training at least twice a week for all major muscle groups. Aerobic activity for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Staying active throughout the day—move often, not just during your workouts. Forget fad diets or unregulated supplements that promise a metabolic miracle. According to both experts, there's no substitute for building muscle and staying active if you want to maintain a healthy metabolism.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
Jeff Bezos could sideline Elon Musk for $175 billion Golden Dome project: Why Donald Trump is looking for alternatives to SpaceX
The Trump administration is actively seeking alternatives to Elon Musk 's SpaceX for the ambitious Golden Dome missile defence system, a project envisioned to cost around $175 billion. This shift is largely driven by a deteriorating relationship between former President Trump and Musk, culminating in a public fallout in June. While SpaceX was initially a top contender, the administration is now broadening its search for partners, including Jeff Bezos 's Amazon Project Kuiper , to reduce reliance on a single entity for such a critical national defence initiative. Deteriorating relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk The core reason for the search for alternatives stems from a significant souring of relations between Donald Trump and Elon Musk. This public dispute, which occurred on June 5, prompted the administration to reassess its strategy for the Golden Dome project . While the exact details of the fallout are not fully disclosed, the tension has clearly impacted SpaceX's previously strong position as a leading partner for the missile shield. Reducing over-reliance on a single partner Even before the recent public spat, officials within the Pentagon and the White House had begun exploring alternatives to SpaceX. There was a growing concern about being overly dependent on a single company, no matter how capable, for large portions of an ambitious and vital space-based defense system. Diversifying partners is a strategic move to ensure greater security and resilience for the Golden Dome project. The rise of Project Kuiper as an alternative Jeff Bezos's Amazon Project Kuiper is now being actively courted by the Pentagon to join the Golden Dome effort. Kuiper aims to deploy a constellation of 3,000 low-Earth orbit satellites, and while primarily commercial, Bezos has acknowledged its potential defense applications, such as aiding missile tracking and communications. This signals the administration's willingness to integrate commercial technology firms into national defense infrastructure, moving beyond traditional defense contractors. Other contenders and strategic diversification Beyond Project Kuiper, the Trump administration is also engaging with traditional defense giants, including Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and L3Harris, to support the Golden Dome. These companies are being considered for their expertise in areas like missile warning and tracking technologies, as well as space-based interceptors. Newer, nimbler Silicon Valley firms like Palantir and Anduril, which have ties to Trump, were also considered early frontrunners before the Musk-Trump feud reshaped the competitive landscape. SpaceX's continued role and Musk's stance Despite the tensions, SpaceX's extensive track record of launching over 9,000 Starlink satellites and its experience in government procurement mean it still holds an "inside track" for significant portions of the Golden Dome, particularly launch contracts. However, Elon Musk himself has stated that SpaceX has "not tried to bid for any contract in this regard" and that the company's "strong preference would be to stay focused on taking humanity to Mars." This indicates a potential lack of interest from SpaceX in the Golden Dome project, further prompting the administration to seek other viable partners.
Economic Times
15 hours ago
- Economic Times
Spacetech startup Inbound Aerospace raises $1 million in funding from Speciale Invest
Company Images Inbound Aerospace, a space technology startup incubated at IIT Madras, has raised a $1 million funding round led by venture capital firm Speciale Invest, with Mumbai-based asset management company Piper Serica in 2025 by Aravind IB, Vishal Reddy, and retired navy captain Abhijit Bhutey, Inbound Aerospace is developing autonomous, reusable re-entry vehicles intended to deliver and return experiments between Earth and space. The company says it will use the new capital to develop and test its spacecraft systems, advance research and development, and help achieve major design milestones. Inbound Aerospace's focus is on research and manufacturing enabled by microgravity (weak gravity in an orbiting spacecraft) conditions, as reliance on the International Space Station (ISS) becomes uncertain ahead of its planned retirement in enables production techniques and scientific experiments that are impossible on Earth. The ISS has been a hub of scientific research and human habitation since 2000, and astronauts have been conducting experiments on the station for nearly 25 years, as of this identified several issues with the traditional method of conducting experiments on the ISS. "There are long wait periods of two to four years due to limited experiment slots and crew safety considerations. There are challenges of capsule recovery, which involves significant deceleration loads and extensive search and rescue efforts," he said, adding that the impending decommissioning of the ISS will limit platforms for in-space manufacturing and spacecraft will be used for in-orbit testing, technology demonstration for qualifying satellites, and microgravity research on subjects such as seed growth. The spacecraft will be deployed in Low Earth Orbit and can conduct a flight for about three founders also highlighted in-space manufacturing as a lucrative application. This process leverages the unique conditions of space, particularly microgravity, to develop or cultivate high-value products for use in sectors such as healthcare and materials science. The startup's primary clients are payload implementation partners who design and build experiment hardware for companies and universities, Bhutey Aerospace will transport a specialised experiment box that will conduct and maintain the experiment in desired conditions, and return to Earth. The startup was initially supported by IIT Madras' startup studio, Nirmaan, and now operates from the IITM Incubation Cell. It recently represented India as the only national finalist in Japan's S-Booster 2025, an international space business competition. Inbound plans to launch its first mission, i.e. a minimum viable product of its re-entry vehicle, by early 2028. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Can medicines inject the vitamins Amazon is missing? We prefer to have idle pilots than grounded planes: Akasa CFO on losses, funding hiccups, Boeing How private ARCs are losing out to a govt-backed firm dealing in bad loans From near bankruptcy to blockbuster drug: How Khorakiwala turned around Wockhardt Stock Radar: Breakout from Symmetrical Triangle pattern could help Pennar Industries to hit fresh record highs; time to buy? F&O Radar| Deploy Broken Wing in BSE shares to gain from bullish setup These large-caps have 'strong buy' & 'buy' recos and an upside potential of more than 20% Buy, Sell or Hold: Antique maintains buy rating on UltraTech; Bajaj Finance remains top pick of Jefferies from BFSI space
