Honor your loved one’s life and memory with a historic memorial spaceflight experience, send their DNA or a portion of their cremated remains aboard Perseverance Flight and receive their returned flight capsule as a celestial keepsake.
The Perseverance Flight is the only memorial spaceflight that will return your loved one's flown capsule back to you as a cherished keepsake.
As part of Celestis' pioneering Earth Rise Service series, this launch-orbit-return mission is scheduled for 2025, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket and The Exploration Company’s Mission Possible spacecraft.
During the flight, the Perseverance will achieve Low Earth Orbit, traveling at 17,000 miles per hour, and complete two to three full orbits around Earth before gently re-entering the atmosphere. The memorial capsules will land safely in the Pacific Ocean, where they will be recovered and returned to you as a lasting tribute to your loved one’s journey among the stars.
Mission Status: Flight capsules integrated onto the spacecraft
Launch Location: Vandenberg SFB, California, USA
Launch Date: Late June 2025
Launch Experience
The Perseverance memorial spaceflight is a unique way to honor a life well-lived, creating a legacy that will be remembered forever. We invite you to witness the launch and join us for a memorial service during a three-day event set against the serene backdrop of California’s stunning coastline, where together we will celebrate the lives of those on board.
Memorial Service
Attend the dedicated memorial service, an event that brings together people from all over the world who share thoughts and remembrances of the loved ones on board.
Local Sightseeing
Participate in a three-day launch event in Lompoc, California near Vandenberg SFB, in the beautiful Central California wine country and visit other local attractions.
Launch Day
"Three, two, one, we have liftoff!" Experience the power and emotion of liftoff as the rocket launches, carrying your loved one aboard.
"It was a beautiful memorial. I can’t recommend Celestis enough."
Diana Densmore
Heritage Flight
"Overwhelmingly wonderful, thank you Celestis for the beautiful and powerful!! weekend, my emotions are still running high 💫🚀🙏♥️"
Norma Kennedy
Starseeker Flight
"Made my life watching this incredible launch knowing my sister was about to orbit this wonderful earth! still amazes me 💖"
Christine Skeats
Heritage Flight
"Thank you all so much! It was very spectacular and healing. My son would have been so proud and happy...❤️"
Ed White
Heritage Flight
"We’re eternally grateful that our son’s ashes could go into low earth orbit. If anyone wants to know about our experience with Celestis or the launch, we’d be happy to answer any questions."
September Brooks Brown
Millennial Flight
"My dad was on board this flight...thank you so much for allowing his dream of space flight to finally be realized. Love and miss you always dad <3"
Mike Crook
Conestoga Flight
"Thank you so much for a great experience (Bob Merritt) my husband was a participant , Special thank you to Charles Chafer and Marc Lee ."
Joan Merritt
Starseeker Flight
"We wanted to be there live, but could not attend due to illness. This was a beautiful service. The personal tributes were moving and the violinist was wonderful Thank you for making this available as a livestream. My father will be part of a wonderful group of passengers on tomorrow’s launch."
John Donoghue
Aurora Flight
"Thanks for the updates and all your hard work seeing our loved one off on their flight.Thanks again.I know the changing landscape is a challenge you are meeting and exceeding."
LouAnn Behringer
Enterprise Flight
"Thank you for fulfilling a life long dream for my husband, Dale Shull. This was a great experience for the family."
Gerrie Fletcher
Heritage Flight
"I cannot express how thrilled my family is about the launch. It is truly a wonderful day. We watched from our homes but we celebrated with the entire Celestis and New Frontier family. Thank you, a million times over, for this opportunity. This was the only idea about which Dad showed any enthusiasm as we talked with him about his memorial service - and oh, the enthusiasm he had for this."
Katherine Stewart
Daughter of Edward Stewart
New Frontier FlightMemorial Service
, May 21, 2015
"It’s absolutely wonderful what you are able to do for our loved ones. I thank you. My father, Robert Winpenney, will be remembered in the most honorable way."
Lucy Wolt
Starseeker Flight
"He believed in energy, he believed in physics and he believed in space. I think this is was the perfect think to send him of on his final journey up into space, back with the energy from which thank everybody."
John Coshway
son of John Coshway, Sr.
Conestoga FlightMemorial Service
, October 22, 2014
"One of the few things that does make sense and what keeps me going in the wake of such tragedy is to give my larger than life son C.J. the opportunity to see the world he never saw and to forever rest in locations far beyond his wildest imagination has allowed me to keep his memory alive….I can’t think of anything more perfect for my loving sun then to hitch a ride on a rocket. Mr. Chafer you could not have given my son and my family a more perfect gift."
Family of C.J. Twomey
Conestoga FlightMemorial Service
, October 22, 2014
Mission Badge
The Perseverance Flight, planned to launch from Vandenberg SFB is the 25th Celestis mission, and the 10th Earth Rise mission. Perseverance is persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success, and well describes the course of many of our mission participants’ lives as well as the history of Celestis as it pioneered this most compelling service.
One of NASA’s most ambitious and successful missions – the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover – was named by a 14-year-old 7th grader (the winner of a NASA-sponsored contest) who explained that the Mars mission was just as much about humanity as it was about exploring the Red Planet. He wrote:
“We are a species of explorers, and we will meet many setbacks on the way to Mars. However, we can persevere…The human race will always persevere into the future.”
Perseverance Flight will launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket – after reaching space the Celestis flight capsules will return to Earth aboard their recovery vehicle, to be returned to the loving care of their families.
A Journey Beyond Earth: A Space Burial to Honor Their Memory
Honoring your loved one in a way that truly reflects their legacy can provide a profound sense of peace and fulfillment.
For 30 years, Celestis has pioneered memorial spaceflights, offering a unique way to honor loved ones by sending their ashes or DNA into space. With 23 successful missions to Earth orbit, the Moon, and deep space, we are the most experienced provider of space burials. Trusted by families worldwide, and fully licensed by the FAA, Celestis ensures a safe, dignified, and meaningful final journey among the stars.
30+ Years of Service Proudly pioneering memorial spaceflights since 1994, offering families around the globe a unique and meaningful way to honor their loved ones.
23 Successful Missions Completed 23 memorial spaceflights to destinations including Earth orbit, the Moon, and deep space, each meticulously planned and executed.
Over 1,200 Participants Honored More than 1,200 individuals from diverse backgrounds—including veterans, astronauts, artists, and scientists—have chosen a final journey among the stars.
0% Environmental Impact All Celestis missions comply with international guidelines, ensuring zero orbital debris and environmentally responsible practices.
98% Customer Satisfaction With nearly all clients reporting a meaningful and positive experience, Celestis has built a reputation for compassionate service and exceptional care.
100% FAA Approved Every Celestis mission is fully licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), reflecting our commitment to safety and regulatory compliance.
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