Countdown to Launch

Celestis is pleased to announce that our annual Earth Rise Flight is scheduled for launch at approximately 7:00 am MDT on June 21, 2013.

This is our fifth Earth Rise mission and twelfth overall memorial spaceflight. We will once again launch aboard an UP Aerospace SpaceLoft XL launch vehicle from Spaceport America, New Mexico. The Centennial Flight is named in honor of the 100th anniversary of New Mexico's statehood.

Celestis joins with our client families from 20 nations in celebrating - with this Centennial Flight mission - the successful launch of more than 1,000 Celestis Flight capsules into space over the course of our company's history.

Webcast: We are working to webcast not only the launch, but also the memorial service that will be held at 3:30 pm MDT, June 20.  While we cannot guarantee the webcasts will occur due to telecommunications limitations at this remote launch location, we are working hard to make them happen. Assuming we're successful, then we will post links to the webcasts on both this webpage and our homepage. Should the launch not be webcast, we will post video of the launch on our website as soon as possible after the launch takes place. 

Social Media: We invite you to follow our launch-related activities on Facebook and Twitter.

The people on board: Each Centennial Flight participant is memorialized on our website with a biography and photo that remains on our site in perpetuity.

Honored aboard this mission will be: greatly admired Hatch, New Mexico Mayor Judd Nordyke, who was an early advocate for Spaceport America; Candy Johnson, an American dancer who appeared in several of the Frankie Avalon 'Beach Party' films of the 1960s, thrilling audiences with her highly energetic dance style; Johnson's sister, Gayle Johns; and Maria Swan who was crowned "Miss World Argentina" in 1967 and became Argentina's first female airline pilot.

The people on board our missions come from a wide variety of backgrounds: Each has a special story. We invite you to read the biographies of the Centennial Flight participants.

What happens at Spaceport America:

• Family members are invited to participate in our launch-related events at Spaceport America. We will: take a tour of mission control, the launch pad where we'll see the rocket, and mission control; conduct a non-sectarian memorial service for all of those on board the mission; and witness the launch.
• Each participant's dream of spaceflight is fulfilled as we launch a symbolic portion of the participants' cremated remains into space. The cremated remains then return to Earth and are recovered.

What happens after the launch:

• Each family will receive the flown space capsule or module -- with the cremated remains still inside -- as a keepsake.
• Families will also receive a video of the launch and related activities, as well as a Launch Certificate.

In addition to our launch-related activities, the Spaceport America area offers a number of interesting tourist attractions. Please visit our blog for more information.

Please check this page often for the latest launch information and news.

Important Dates

For more information, please contact us.

Watch post-launch interview of Reda Anderson from a previous Earthrise mission, The Discovery Flight.

Participant: Ralph Bradshaw White

Watch post-launch interview of the Howes from a previous Earthrise mission, The Discovery Flight.

Participant: Philip Frederick Green

Watch post-launch interview of the Turner Family from previous Earthrise mssion, The Legacy Flight.

Participant: Alfred Floyd Turner